THE Group Three Rugby League grand final may not be played at Port Macquarie’s Regional Stadium on Sunday September 18, even if the two Port Macquarie clubs are involved.
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This follows a standoff between the group and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council over payment for re-configuring the ground after the Football Mid North Coast Premier League grand final is played there on Saturday September 17. Football Mid North Coast booked the ground at the start of the year.
“Council has told us the only way they’ll do any work on the field on Saturday night is if we pay $3600,’’ Group Three secretary Barrie Smith said.
“That’s out of our league. Otherwise there won’t be any work on the ground until the Monday.’’
The winning club from the group’s major semi-final on September 4 earns the right to host the grand final. This has been the group’s policy since 2002. The major semi will be at Port’s Regional Stadium after Port Macquarie finished minor premiers.
Port City finished third and if the Breakers beat Wingham on Sunday they’ll play the Sharks in the major semi. Only the three top teams in the competition are in contention to hold the grand final. That’ll be reduced to two after Sunday’s game at Wingham.
Mr Smith said if the matter can’t be resolved the group would have to look for another grand final venue should either of the Port clubs qualify first.
“Wauchope should be available – the Hastings League grand final is scheduled there for the Saturday,’’ he said. However, there’s no other ground in the Hastings the group would play the game.
Mr Smith confirmed the group would consider Taree’s Jack Neal Oval should there be problems with the Wauchope ground – even if the two Ports clubs are involved. Initially the group’s grand final was to be Sunday September 11, however, the competition was put back a week after three games were postponed because of wet weather the weekend of July 2 and 3. Mr Smith said negotiations will continue with council.
Meanwhile Football Mid North Coast chairman Mike Parsons confirmed the premier league grand final will be at Port Macquarie even if Forster-Tuncurry clubs Wallis Lake and Tuncurry-Forster are involved in first grade. Wallis Lake and Tuncurry-Forster were the top two teams after the competition-proper finished last weekend.
