Sunshine Coast lockdown ends but sport still impacted by Covid-19 restrictions

Coast businesses can soon swing their doors open once again but plenty of sporting groups are yet to escape lockdown’s reach. SEE FOR FULL DETAILS

Coast businesses can soon swing their doors open once again but plenty of local sporting groups are yet to escape lockdown’s reach.

The Sunshine Coast and Noosa areas will be free from a three-day snap lockdown as of 6pm Friday, while Brisbane and Moreton Bay areas have been extended for a further 24 hours.

It is welcome news for Coast businesses with doors re-opening as the school holidays continue.

However, it’s a different story for the region’s sporting groups with some to still feel the effects of lockdown.

State-level clubs including Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Falcons have had their rounds postponed due to Brisbane teams being unable to hit the field.

Most local level sport is primed to return over the weekend but Rugby League Sunshine Coast has cancelled all the weekend’s fixtures due to a number of clubs still stuck in the Moreton Bay area.

The games are cancelled, with no points to be awarded.

“It’s disappointing but it is what it is,” SCGRL president Glenn Peatling said.

“Obviously we’ve got four clubs within the Moreton local government area (Caboolture, Stanley River, Beachmere and Bribie) that made it pretty hard to change things.

“To be honest some of the other clubs in the Sunshine Coast area have players, volunteers and support staff that live in Brisbane that would just be as adversely affected.”

Here’s the sport that is on and off for the weekend with businesses further below:

FOOTBALL

-Wanderers’ home games called off after Football Queensland announced there would be no NPL games to be played.

-As a result, the Indigenous Reconciliation Cup, which was to be played as part of the Wanderers’ Indigenous Round, has been postponed.

-Sunshine Coast Fire had bye

-Local Coast football did not have a round this weekend so were not impacted

Stanley River forward Sam Armitage.

RUGBY LEAGUE

-Falcons won’t hit the field for their match against Ipswich Jets after all Intrust Super Cup games were postponed due to the continued lockdown for Brisbane and Moreton Bay.

The game will now be played on the July 24-25 weekend.

-Local Sunshine Coast league has been cancelled, with four clubs stuck in the Moreton Bay area’s lockdown.

BASKETBALL (NBL 1 North)

-USC Rip City’s scheduled match against Northside Wizards at South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday has been postponed.

-Meanwhile, while there’s been no official word yet, Sunshine Coast Phoenix may have a shot at playing against the Spartans at home in Maroochydore on Sunday.

RUGBY UNION

-Rugby Union Sunshine Coast has announced that local competition would proceed as planned across all grades this weekend, weather depending.

-The Sunshine Coast Stingrays junior teams of U12, U13, U14, U16 players have had their Queensland Junior State Rugby Union Championships in Toowoomba cancelled.

The competition, scheduled Friday to Sunday, was cancelled earlier in the week.

HOCKEY

Sunshine Coast Hockey Association announced that all fixtures will proceed as scheduled.

However, teams that have four or more players impacted by lockdown in Moreton Bay and Brisbane can apply to have the game postponed.

RACING

Sunshine Coast Turf Club is set to go ahead with the Caloundra Cup on Saturday, with plenty of racing to be enjoyed.

Meanwhile, Coast businesses have rejoiced at the end of lockdown and are keen for the weekend.

In a shoutout post by the Sunshine Coast Daily on Facebook plenty were quick to declare their doors would be open straight away from 6pm.

Here are some of the businesses that posted on the Daily’s Facebook:

-Fitness Cartel Maroochydore (Friday night 6pm)

-Tapas 10 in Mapleton (Friday 6pm)

-The Central Tavern Caloundra (Friday 6pm)

-The Fryer of Whitby (open for takeaway Friday and will open for dine in Saturday)

-Secret Door in Kunda Park (Friday 8pm)

-The Family Laundry in Bli Bli

-Subsurface Scuba in Mooloolaba

-Primal Influence

-Cut n Go Barbers in Maroochydore

-Craft Espresso & Bar in Mooloolaba

-Deep Sea Fishing Co Noosa

-Champagne Lou Lou in Yandina

-Bloomhill Cancer Care op shops

-McMartin’s Strawberry Farm in Bli Bli