THE new Central North Rugby competition format will stand after a meeting yesterday morning voted against a motion to move back to the old home and away format.
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After almost four hours of discussions a vote was held, with 75 per cent of clubs wishing to try out the new format according to CNRU president Peter Burke.
“We had a really good meeting where every club put their thoughts forward,” Burke said.
“The best thing is that every club drew a line in the sand and said we are going to fully support whatever result comes out.”
With that decision made, the problem of having only three sides in the bottom tier with a reserve grade side was addressed.
“The reserve grade side of the tier one club that has a bye will play in the spot of Barraba’s reserves,” Burke said.
“And the reserve grade side of the tier two team with a bye will play in the spot of Walcha’s reserves.”
The games will be played for competition points.
It means that no reserve grade sides will get a bye for the rest of the season.
The decision is great for supporters who will now get to see finals footy played every week for the next 14 rounds.
It will definitely test the depth of some sides but is generally considered to be the right step for the competition.
“There are definitely things we can do better,” Burke said.
“We are going to treat it as we go and the committee can change things along the way.”
The president said that the top priority was to ensure the survival of all 10 clubs and then to get all clubs to have two grades.
“In the future, if the skill level gets better and closer between the bottom and the top we can go back to one competition.”
“That is the goal.”