WINGHAM'S performance in last season's Manning A-grade men's hockey competition has drawn praise from Chatham's premiership winning coach Frank Birkefeld.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He believes Wingham will improve next year from the experience gained in the 2016 campaign.
"Wingham struggled a bit early in the season when they didn't have their full squad,'' he said.
However, as the team gained in confidence Wingham proved to be competitive against the other three teams in the A-grade competition. Birkefeld believes this ensures next season's competition will be a closely fought affair.
Meanwhile Manning Hockey officials will meet with representatives from the four current A-grade men's sides soon to discuss the possibility of Port Macquarie sides rejoining the competition next year.
"The Port Macquarie clubs have been brain storming and we'll be doing the same thing with our clubs,'' Manning Hockey president Craig Colvin said.
Mr Colvin hopes this will eventuate in a six team competition next year run in a similar manner to the Mid North Coast Premier League. The league ceased this year when Port Macquarie clubs withdrew. This left a four team Manning A-grade competition won by Chatham last weekend.
Mr Colvin said the format of a revamped premier league will have to be agreed to by the Manning and Hastings associations. He said this would include the day or nights matches played.
"Travel is an issue,'' he said.
"So we will be seeking input from all clubs involved on when would be best to play the matches.''
Mr Colvin said he would prefer to see a season-long, six team draw with matches alternating between Taree and Port Macquarie. However, he added that the premier league may run for part of the season before the two associations break to play in domestic finals series. This would ensure there would be no repeat of the situation where clubs had to play in the premier league grand final one week then back-up to take part in the grand finals of the domestic competition the following. This was unpopular with players as in recent years the matches generally involved the same teams.
A number of Port Macquarie players turned out with Manning clubs this year, particularly with the Sharks and Chatham sides.
Mr Colvin hopes the interaction between the Manning and Hastings competitions will eventaully spread into the women's div one and possibly into the junior grades.
"One thing that will have to improve is the communication between the two associations,'' Mr Colvin said.
"And the competitions would have to be run on a 50-50 basis.''