That was the sentiment from Premier League Hockey vice-president Nicole Riley after the competition was forced to make late alterations to its plan for the final day of the regular 2021 season.

Bathurst was set to host the second of the women's double-header Saturdays for the season as well as a men's match in a bumper program of nine games.

But the Bathurst Hockey Association informed PLH that due to its COVID-19 health and safety concerns, its venue would no longer be available. The Orange Hockey Association followed suit.

It saw the PLH executive and club delegates stage a zoom meeting on Thursday night to find a solution. In the end Orange agreed to host the men's fixture between Wanderers and Parkes while Lithgow will stage all other games.

"We have tried to make everything as fair and transparent as possible. Yes it's not ideal, but we still get to play hockey and that's what a majority of players wanted to do, they just wanted to be able to play," Riley said.

"I think we had a week off last week, we needed to get back playing this week and if we didn't take advantage of Lithgow's offer to do it this week down there, then we potentially wouldn't be playing this week and potentially be looking at a place like Parkes to try and play the double-header the following week.

"That would then throw our time lines out with finals."

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The PLH executive stressed they are doing everything possible to ensure all teams comply with current New South Wales Heath public health orders.

The have also introduced a new measure that any side found to be fielding a player from a restricted area will be stripped of points and the breach reported to the relevant authorities.

Riley acknowledges that the new time slots are not ideal, nor is some clubs having players unable to participate due to self-isolation regulations. But she said PLH is "there to look after the best interest of the players".

"I get that people are up in arms about it, I understand that, but from a Premier League perspective there's nothing more we could have done to make sure we play this weekend," she said.

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