Flinders University and St Peter’s Old Collegians hockey clubs return to second tier after six month legal battle

In a bid to avoid an expensive legal battle, Hockey SA has allowed two clubs to return to their second-tier competition halfway through the season, angering rivals.

Port Adelaide Metro One women's player Nicola Higgins in action against Flinders University last year. Flinders will return to Hockey SA’s second tier competition with St Peter’s Old Collegians after winning a legal battle over their relegation. Picture: Port Adelaide Hockey Club

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Two hockey clubs have been reinstated into the second-tier women’s competition midway through the season as Hockey SA backed down after a six-month legal battle over their relegation.

The governing body dumped St Peter’s Old Collegians and Flinders University from Metro One to Metro Two at the end of the 2018 campaign because it wanted fairer, eight-team competitions and those two clubs did not have Premier League sides.

But SPOC and Flinders University appealed the decision to the Magistrates Court and this month Hockey SA avoided a costly legal battle by agreeing to a settlement, including reinstating the clubs seven rounds into the season.

St Peter’s Old Collegians playing Port Adelaide during the 2015 Metro One women’s grand final. Picture: Port Adelaide Hockey Club

The move has angered some rival clubs, which are now being forced to play Wednesday night catch-up games against SPOC and Flinders University for the remainder of the minor round.

Port Adelaide president Dennis Meredith was worried his club could be forced to forfeit its four midweek Metro One games due to players being unavailable.

“This new fixture has a serious affect on our club as the makeup of our Metro One team is uni students, under-18 players, country players and young mums,” Meredith said.

“There is no expectation that they will play midweek.

“I am looking for a reduction of games.”

Port Adelaide president Dennis Meredith.

Meredith was also concerned about cost increases because all Wednesday night matches were scheduled for the state hockey centre, which charged more for games than other venues.

“We want a fair and equitable draw not only for us but for Flinders and SPOC, too,” he said.

Hockey SA will use an equalised points system, based on games played, wins and losses, to determine a four-team finals series.

Woodville president Gary Boseley understood why SPOC and Flinders appealed but was disappointed Hockey SA had relegated the clubs “without any reasoning or any discussions”.

“We are certainly not happy,” Boseley said.

“The availability of players is a huge issue and another issue is the fairness of the competition and what effect these two teams coming in will have on the others’ ability to make finals.”

Adelaide president Finola Dwyer said playing Wednesday nights was “not ideal” and she had expected more consultation from Hockey SA before reinstating the two clubs.

But Northeast president Ashley Thompson supported Hockey SA, saying it was simply an unfortunate situation.

He said the club would work with the governing body for the best interests of the sport.

Port Adelaide Metro One player Ilona Flockhart in action against St Peter's Old Collegians during the 2015 grand final. Picture: Port Adelaide Hockey Club

Both SPOC and Flinders University were pleased to return to the second-tier competition.

“We appreciate the decision … to reinstate our team and that of Flinders University to the Metro One division at this point of the season is disruptive,” St Peter’s Old Collegians president Chris Bayly said.

“We are open to working with the other clubs and Hockey SA around how to minimise the disruption.”

Hockey SA chief executive Peter Churack said he regretted “any inconvenience caused by recent changes”.

Churack said SPOC and Flinders had committed to growing their junior programs as part of the reinstatement agreement.

All club presidents were set to meet with Hockey SA on Tuesday night to discuss the issue further.