TAREE Touch Football Association has been forced to relocate the spring/summer junior and senior competitions to fields in the Manning Hockey Centre area of Taree Recreation Centre.
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This is because of the deteriorating condition of the rugby league/touch fields. The fields have been closed by MidCoast Council.
Taree Touch's junior season started on Monday and will run to Christmas, with up to 50 teams expected in the various grades. Senior touch will begin on Monday, October 14
"We normally have eight full sized touch fields, but we'll only have seven where we are now,'' Taree Touch president Graham Goodwin said.
"But we'll be able to get through with our juniors. We might have to rejig the draw a bit but we'll be okay.''
He said the association has received permission from Taree Athletic Club to use their headquarters for the duration of the season.
Mr Goodwin said the senior touch will present further problems as the association usually uses lights and there's none at the temporary base.
"We don't start to October 14 and we'll have daylight saving then,'' he explained.
"So again, we'll have to rejig the draw.''
Mr Goodwin understands some of the touch fields could be opened next month.
"But unless there's a major improvement we won't be using them. I don't want to risk our players getting injured,'' he said.
He described the state of the fields as ' very poor.'
Mr Goodwin added the association has played on the hockey centre side of the complex previously when the area was gripped by drought.
"That was more than 10 years ago and we managed to get through,'' he said.
The association has again applied to host the Northern Eagles Junior Championships in mid-January. Mr Goodwin said the closure/and or poor condition of the touch fields won't impact this.
"We'll have enough fields and Manning Hockey will allow us to use their clubhouse for the tournament centre,'' he explained.
Around 60 teams usually contest the championships.
Taree City Bulls Rugby League Club had to find a new training base this year because of the conditions of the recreation centre fields.