Check out what is happening with extended shutdown

Essential information as Ipswich sporting officials grapple with evolving Covid situation and how to move forward safely. See how your sport is impacted.

Brothers footballer Lachlan Vellacott attempts a Superman impression against the Jets in a recent Rugby League Ipswich A-Grade game. All Ipswich sports have been impacted by the lockdown extension. Picture: Bruce Clayton

WITH the Queensland lockdown extended to 4pm Sunday, regional sport remains in a holding pattern.

Here’s an update of what’s happening in major sports.

The Rugby League Ipswich directors are planning a Zoom meeting to discuss the unfolding situation. That includes the possibility of extending the Ipswich competition season.

This weekend’s final round games, including the A-Grade clashes between Swifts and Fassifern and Brothers hosting Norths, are off until the RLI board considers all options.

The Ipswich Jets Intrust Super Cup match against the Cutters in Mackay has joined the list of games called off.

USQ Ipswich Jets goal shooter Charlie Bell will be a key player when the Sapphire Series semi-final can be played.

The USQ Jets HART Sapphire Series semi-final against the USC Thunder that was to be played last Sunday was among the many games put on hold.

The USQ Jets Ruby Series team were also preparing to play Panthers on Sunday in their semi-final between the third and fourth placed teams.

Jets head coach and teacher Tracey Jeanes-Fraser was busy on Monday helping her students continue their learning by Zoom.

However, she was planning for an extended lockdown.

She said her players would look to maintain their “fitness, focus and connectiveness’’ while continuing to communicate with coaches.

With preliminary final spots at stake when the semi-finals can go ahead, Jeanes-Fraser was eager to build on the Jets’ recent progress.

“The Sapphires girls individually had to review the Thunder game and provide key elements they would have brought to their game,’’ Jeanes-Fraser said.

“Today they are doing an online trivia contest and a fitness program will be sent.

“During the week we will be catching up with the girls with skill cards and more zooming.’’

Everyone involved with the Ipswich Netball Association is also waiting on future developments, especially with finals scheduled to start later this month.

“We are remaining agile and holding at the moment to see what the next round of announcements will be before we make a determination of what we do next,’’ INA president Nicole Virtue said.

After last season was called off due to COVID, the 2021 finals are set to start on August 21, subject to what happens the next couple of weeks.

“We are at the mercy of Covid. We have to be flexible,’’ Virtue said.

INA officials made an early decision to call off last Saturday’s fixtures across the grades in fairness to all clubs.

Ipswich Force basketballer Mitch Poulain is supported by teammate Matt Hodgson during the NBL1 North match against Gold Coast at JBS Stadium. Hopes are high the season can resume soon. Picture: Megan Low

All Ipswich basketball games, training, trials and coaching have been called off this week in the lockdown area.

That included Ipswich Force’s NBL1 North men’s and women’s matches against USC Rip scheduled for Saturday night at JBS Stadium.

Ipswich’s next NBL1 North encounters were set down for Red City Roar on Saturday night will also be postponed.

Ipswich Basketball president and Force men’s head coach Chris Riches shared the community focus for everyone to do the right thing so competition and normal activities can resume as quickly as possible.

“We essentially have to press a pause button on all the competitions and all the other aspects that happen around the association,’’ Riches said.

“It’s not just us. It’s the whole of South East Queensland.

“From our point of view, we just see this as being a temporary pause.

“Fingers crossed people can do the right thing and stay responsible and hopefully we can get through it all together.’’

Riches said this weekend’s NBL1 matches would be rescheduled and various future options considered.

“The season is still very much on. It’s just a situation where it’s a hiccup or speed bump along the way,’’ Riches said.

Western Power’s opening round of Brisbane Premier League T20 cricket matches scheduled for last Sunday were postponed until further notice. That featured senior men and under-19 games against the Southern Rockets that were set to ignite the historic competition.

“The league and all franchises believe the community should be at the forefront of our minds right now and we hope everyone stays safe during this lockdown period,’’ a BPL official said in a statement.

Western Power CEO Andrew Catton was waiting for more information from BPL officials after the exciting opening round was called off.

This weekend’s matches are also unable to be contested in the inaugural competition, which has generated huge anticipation.

“I’m gutted. It’s very frustrating,’’ Catton said. “But it is what it is.’’

Ipswich Hockey officials on the executive committee will meet on Monday night to plan their next course of action. That includes whether games played on Friday night and Saturday morning will count, or be ruled as draws.

“Everything is up in the air,’’ official Margret Mantell said.

The under-11 carnival set down for Downey Park last Sunday was postponed.

In football, all regional teams will be impacted by the latest lockdown extension. That includes this week’s Football Queensland Premier League 1 local derby showdown between Western Pride and Ipswich Knights.

All Ipswich and District Athletic Club training has been called off for this week.

However, athletes managed to complete the Queensland State Cross Country Championships at Toogoolawah on Saturday before the 4pm lockdown deadline.

Karalee sensation Jude Thomas, 19, finished third as the youngest competitor in the open 10km race.

Another club talent Connor Mathewson won the 10 year-old event over 2km.

Ipswich athlete Jude Thomas. Picture: Michael Thomas

Club president Vic Pascoe is hoping the current situation settles down this week so the 39th Ipswich Winter Carnival can proceed as planned on August 22 at Bill Paterson Oval.

Ipswich Eagles club president Clint Bateman was also waiting to see what decisions were made regarding the QFA Division 2 men’s and QFA Division 2 women’s competitions.

The Ipswich Eagles are in third spot and keen to play finals football.

No senior Aussie rules games were played last Saturday. However, some junior matches were completed in the morning before the lockdown kicked in.

AFLQ will decide what happens with last weekend’s matches and how the competition will be impacted, especially with finals scheduled soon.

“We’ll sit back and wait and see what the outcome is,’’ Bateman said.

School competitions like the Langer Trophy, GPS sport and AIC competition are on hold until further notice.

The Langer Trophy and Walters Cup games involving Ipswich State High on Wednesday were suspended with the hope they can be played a the following week.

The QGSSSA athletics meeting will not go ahead on Friday night.

The Education Department will release more information in coming days.