Grassroots sport set for comeback
Football returns this weekend and the other major winter codes are not far behind as the sports season belatedly gets under way in Manawatu¯.
Covid-19 restrictions put a halt to all sports earlier this year, but as restrictions ease, sports are preparing to play again with hygiene measures and contact tracing in place.
Teams have started training, competition dates for all grades have been set and spectators may be allowed to return if the Government allows further easing of restrictions next week.
Central Football senior competitions start this weekend, junior grades next weekend and secondary schools on June 20. All run until September.
Central Football chief operations manager Donald Piper said people were looking forward to kicking a ball again.
‘‘Everyone I spoke to is pretty excited.’’
All grades of netball start in two weeks, with the club and secondary school competitions grading on June 20. The premier club competition starts on June 23. Competitions finish in September.
Game start times have been spread across the day to prevent a logjam of people at Vautier Park in Palmerston North, but times could change if restrictions on gathering numbers are further eased.
Junior grades start from June 20 and finish in August.
Senior club rugby starts on
June 20, with the senior one Hankins Shield field on August 15. Junior rugby starts on July 4.
The secondary schools competition will likely have grading games at the end of this school term, then competition starts during term three.
Manawatu rugby operations manager Martin Brady said the union wanted to get players participating again.
The Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XV’S season starts on June 20, with the Super 8 competition in the central North Island, starting on July 25.
Details for the Central North Island competition that the Feilding High School first XV plays in, are being worked on, but could start on July 25.
Basketball Manawatu¯ secondary school competition starts next Friday, the adult competition on June 17 and primary competitions on June 24.
Hockey Manawatu¯ is holding a festival next Saturday to welcome people back, then senior and schools competitions start the following week.
Rugby league will resume later in the year to avoid clashing with rugby.