Start dates set for sport

Season 2020 may be over for many senior competitions, but for juniors, the green light has been given and most are taking the opportunity to move forward.

The weekend of July 18 and 19 looks to be the moment for many competitors who are eager to get back out on the hockey, soccer, football grounds, while netballers will also be taking to the court as competitive sport returns to the region for the first time since late February.

The Mid Gippsland league have sprung into action, revealing that they will be joining forces with the Alberton league in a surprise move that will see 11 junior teams play in a merged competition in 2020.

This may act as a trial run for the proposed merge of the two leagues as stated in the highly awaited G25 recommendations.

In the Gippsland league, under 18s and 16s football will be going ahead, as will under 13s, 15s and 17s netball. They’ll kick off on July 18 with a fixture in the pipeline and to be released soon.

The West Gippsland Hockey league will also be restarting with July 18 pencilled in to see their junior teams back on the hockey fields.

Teams began training in June and are eager to get back onto the pitch and begin their season.

The Gippsland Soccer League will also be returning, with the juniors beginning on July 19, followed by the seniors two weeks later.

Warragul United will also be back out on the pitch, starting their State 1 competition on Saturday July 25, with teams opting in to play despite the shutdown.