Central Coast: rugby, soccer, league, AFL seasons under threat

Sporting codes across the coast are scrambling to salvage finals for the 2021 winter season. Meanwhile it’s game-on for teams in the Hunter. Here’s what’s planned for your code.

When a two-week lockdown was announced on June 26 most sporting codes thought it would be a mid-season speed hump.

But with an extended lockdown looming, most codes are scrambling to prepare contingency plans to salvage finals depending on when restriction lift.

And the longer the restrictions remain, the less likely sporting codes on the coast will finish their season.

Meanwhile various sports in the north, including ones where coast teams play against Hunter teams, continue unabated — just without coast teams.

Here’s the state of play for each code.

CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION

Seniors and junior games missed in Covid lockdown are being recorded as a “draw” with CCRU keen to get the local competition going as soon as lockdowns ease.

Seniors president Larry Thomson said they would aim to finish the season as per the draw with senior grand finals on September 11 and juniors on September 18.

However he said “it may go back one week”.

Central Coast Rugby Union is hoping to play finals. (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

This year was the first season to see Under 13s-17s boys teams playing in a combined Hunter competition.

Juniors president Shane Orr said that competition continues with Hunter teams playing each other and any games involving coast teams being recorded as a “draw”.

He said the deadline for restrictions to ease and enable those age groups to continue in the Hunter competition would be August 7.

If restrictions do not ease by August 7 teams that play in the Hunter may not make finals. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

He said that would give coast teams a week’s training and a final round on August 14 before the semi-finals begin the following week.

If restrictions don’t ease before then it is likely coast teams would have to miss the Hunter competition finals.

Mr Orr said if that happened “we will do something ourselves” and coast teams would likely play off in a local final series.

CENTRAL COAST FOOTBALL

Of all the codes, local soccer has been the most transparent with its plans to play out the season if and when restrictions ease.

CCF has secured grounds until the weekend of September 18-19 and is hoping to make up as many games as possible however any games missed because of Covid will be recorded as a draw.

“Our current list of fixtures was due to be completed in mid-August and dependent on when we may be able to restart, and we have plans to complete competitions by rescheduling

some of the postponed fixtures,” CCF CEO Darren Sprod wrote in an update to all clubs.

Local soccer has a clear road map out of Covid restrictions. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

“If we were able to resume on or before Saturday, August 21, we would be able to complete the competition with the minimum number of rounds.

“CCF is under no illusions as to how difficult all of this looks at present. If we lose any further time beyond August 21, it will become increasingly difficult to complete any competitions.”

Priority will be on playing league games with finals shortened to a grand final between the two top teams.

If any competition finishes the season with less than 14 games CCF will provide a proportionate refund or credit to players based on the shortfall in the number of games played.

HUNTER CENTRAL COAST AFL

Signal the sound of crickets chirping.

The HCCAFL has been silent on what is to happen with the code since July 8 when Community Football & Competition manager Matt Harris issued a release stating the draw would be readjusted to align Hunter versus Hunter teams going forward.

Meanwhile Central Coast Black Diamond Men’s and Women’s teams and junior teams, which play against Hunter teams, remain in limbo.

Central Coast teams in the Black Diamond competitions can’t play but Hunter teams still are. (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

No decision has been made, or conveyed to coast clubs, as to whether games will be rescheduled when restrictions lift or if they will be abandoned.

The AFL is believed to be considering either recording a “draw” for games missed because of Covid or giving coast clubs an “aggregate” number of competition points based on the number of games won before the lockdown started.

A call to Mr Harris went unreturned.

CENTRAL COAST RUGBY LEAGUE

NSW Community Rugby League manager Peter Clarke has assured local rugby league would recommence as soon as lockdown ease.

However there has been no word on whether the season would be extended, games rescheduled or what was to happen to competition points from missed games.

This will have a minimal impact on junior or local senior competitions but has major ramifications for The Denton Cup where The Entrance Tigers and Wyong Roos are vying for a finals spot.

Powerhouse coast clubs The Entrance Leagues and Wyong Roos can’t play in the Denton Cup under Covid restrictions. (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

“We can’t give you an exact recommencement plan but we can provide certainty of our intention to return to play in 2021,” Mr Clarke told the Express Advocate.

“When it is safe to play, we will be offering football again this year.

“Getting our comps back on the park will provide a much-needed boost in positivity across our communities, and we want to be prepared to get moving when the opportunity arises.”

He said NSWRL was “working through various scenarios” to resume football and an update

would be announced as soon as there was some clarity around easing restrictions.