Hockey: Tamworth hockey looking to stage grand finals on October long weekend

In a post on the association's Facebook page addressed to the 'Tamworth Hockey Family', president Ross Briggs said that "due to the fluid nature of life with COVID, a decision has been made to push back the grand final weekend to Saturday 2 to Monday 4 October (it was originally scheduled for September 10-13).

"Depending on when we come out of lockdown and are given the green light to resume community sport, we feel that this gives us the best opportunity to finish off our season," he added.

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The majority of the competitions still had two rounds remaining - the first and second grade men had three - when Tamworth was put into lockdown and all hockey activity suspended. Subsequently the whole of Regional NSW was placed under stay at home orders.

The preferred option is to play the remaining rounds and then go into the finals, however that will depend on when the lockdown is lifted.

But they do have some options up their sleeve.

"If we need to we can try and do some mid-week games to fit in rounds," Briggs told The Leader.

And if the "worst came to the worst" they could go straight into the finals.

The statewide lockdown is due to end on Sunday.

Wanting to provide some certainty for the hockey community, Briggs did note that if it was to continue beyond September 12 and it wasn't looking like "we're going to come out of it" then they would have to abandon the rest of the season.

In that instance the teams leading the respective competitions/grades would be declared the champions.

Should they get the green light to resume, Briggs said they will also look to restart the Tadpoles program.

The first session had been held the Saturday before the lockdown was imposed.

"We'll bring them back as soon as lockdown ends," he said.

"We want to give the little kids the opportunity with the Tadpoles."

The first session had seen a record roll-up of over 130 youngsters.

"Around 100 was our best before then," he said.