We’re a sorry bunch – our Peel Schools Rugby League Carnival organisers, 450 junior players, their parents, team officials, referees, ground managers, motel managers, coach companies, caterers, casual teachers, visiting NRL players, local media, etcetera.
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As I stood on slightly sodden ground in the middle of the Regional Sports Complex (Minor League Park) early yesterday morning, blue skies above, my tears added a little to the dampness.
After our committee worked hard to resurrect the Peel Schools Carnival, now in its 67th year, after a variety of circumstances prevented it from proceeding last year, we were delighted to have 42 teams enter in yesterday’s secondary section.
Amongst the 15 schools coming were some from as far afield as Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
When the rain came on Sunday and Monday, hope sprang eternal with the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday indicating the rain had passed.
With a previously dry ground and a lush growth of grass covering the fields, it augured well for a good surface for yesterday’s matches.
But wait! Despite the sun breaking through and the rain having passed, our council saw fit to close the grounds late on Tuesday morning, thus cancelling our matches and putting us into rapid “recovery” mode. One Newcastle team was already halfway here and needless travelling and accommodation were incurred.
Around the participating region coaches, accommodation and casual teachers were cancelled.
Our major sponsor, Classic Sportswear, were twiddling their thumbs in Tamworth yesterday with little to do.
The visiting NRL City and Country players who arrived in town on Tuesday were disappointed in not being able to lend their support to yesterday’s carnival.
But, I hear you say, council needs to look after our grounds.
I agree.
But on this occasion I think the “powers that be” were overprotective.
In my, and others’ opinion, with no surface water and great grass cover, the fields were definitely playable, perhaps a “soft 5” in horseracing parlance.
Had the carnival been programmed for Tuesday, cancellation would have been the right decision, but with a drying day forecast for Tuesday and (as I write) not a cloud in the sky yesterday, it was predictable that the playing surface would have been OK for the econdary carnival.
Given the importance of the Peel Schools (Australia’s longest-running rugby league carnival) to Tamworth, providing a great iconic competition for junior players and bringing money into the town, we feel a concession should have been granted.
The significance and scope of our carnival is a little different to local weekly sport training sessions, where field closure may in some circumstances be justified.
One doubts whether the recent NSW OzTag Championships in Tamworth would have been forced to cancel if similar ground surface conditions had been experienced.
Too much investment!
To a lesser extent we’re in the same boat (so to speak!).
What’s done is done and cannot be undone (Shakespeare ?).
Fingers crossed for our primary section on Saturday, with the forecast again being promising.
Mike Cashman
Publicity Officer
Peel Schools Rugby LEAguE
