Inside Sport
GROUP Three Rugby League club delegates will meet tonight at the Wingham Services Club to work a way through the problems caused by matches postponed because of wet weather a fortnight ago, while there’s also the matter of fitting the Forster-Tuncurry/Macleay Valley game into the schedule.
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The Forster/Macleay encounter has been impacted by the playing of Country under 14 and 15 championships at Tuncurry this weekend. The whole thing was explained in last Friday’s Times.
Inside Sport was at the group’s annual meeting last November. Here there was the usual lengthy debate over the structure of the draw. Clubs overwhelmingly went for a competition that virtually didn’t have a break from the first round to the last, save the the split round next month. There were at least two dissenters. Both Wingham delegate Craig Martin and group secretary Barrie Smith warned of the perils of not having a spare weekend to cover for wet weather or other mishaps that can occur during a season. The main complaint from season 2015 was the stop-start nature of the competition. But this was largely the result of having seven clubs involved, meaning a bye. That problem was negated when Macleay Valley successfully gained re-admission, making eight clubs.
Now the clubs have been called to a special meeting to sort out the problems. We wish the delegates well in their endeavours.
Happy birthday
BEFORE the field heads off every Saturday in the Taree parkrun the race director gives runners the usual instructions, while also welcoming visitors etc etc. They also ask if anyone is celebrating a birthday.
“Mine’s tomorrow,’’ one woman volunteered last Saturday.
“Thanks for reminding me,’’ her husband quickly replied.
Under lights
MANNING Ratz and Wallamba rugby officials were pro active in organising to play their postponed Lower North Coast game last Friday evening at Taree Recreation Centre . The Bulls even gave up a home match to get the encounter out of the way.
The enterprise shown by the clubs and the venue drew applause from veteran rugby correspondent Phil Wilkins, who made his way in from his Forster base to watch the match.
“We should have more floodlit games there,’’ Phil told Inside Sport.
Meanwhile the lights also came on at the Jack Neal Oval on Sunday for the second half of the Wauchope/Taree City Group Three Rugby League game. The 3.15pm kickoff for first grade mean matches end in semi-darkness at this time of year. Taree City president Mal Dixon was noted in deep conversation with Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie at fulltime, no doubt putting the case forward for more funding for the ground. Good luck with that Mal.
