BATHURST Panthers' lower grades were getting set to chase victories away to Lithgow Workies this Sunday before the round was cancelled in light of the recent Orange and Blayney lockdown.
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For the Panthers' premier league men it's business as usual - since the Workies have pulled out of the top grade - but it's a lost chance for the other grades to try and make up ground in their competitions.
Panthers premier league manager Danny Dwyer said the cancellation was a sensible call.
"Based on the lockdown for Blayney and Orange it made it impossible for them to compete this weekend so the sensible thing was the cancel the round and for people to stay safe, so we can hopefully get back to normality the following weekend," he said.
"It's not too dissimilar to a snow or washout round where it's called off if it's impossible for every team to play. I wouldn't call it a precedent, but there's some history with a decision like this.
"Obviously not every team was playing this weekend, and Workies have pulled out of first grade so we didn't have a game this weekend. Fingers crossed we'll be back in order for next round."
Dwyer said it wouldn't be a reasonable decision to push back any future matches should the lockdown next to be extended for a further period, come its original conclusion this Tuesday evening.
Fingers crossed we'll be back in order for next round.
- Danny Dwyer
"If something happens and they had to extend the season I don't think that's a bad thing," he said.
"Playing footy deeper into the season will probably be good for the boys because they haven't been playing regularly this year. I don't think that would be a big issue - for our club, anyway.
"That would help keep the competition going rather than having everything called off, if something does happen."
Blayney Bears will be Panthers' next matchup.
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