Local sporting fields are empty as most of Cobar’s sporting bodies have been forced to either postpone the start of their seasons or cancel them altogether.
All codes are following the tough government restrictions put into place to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
President of the Cobar Roosters Senior Rugby League Football Club, Chris Deighton, said it was “inevitable” that the start of the Castlereagh Rugby League season would have to be postponed.
“NSW Rugby League has postponed all Community Rugby League until at least May 2020 due to COVID-19.
“This means no games, trials, training, courses or any other club activities,” Deighton said.
The Cobar Camels Rugby Union Club season has also been postponed at least until May.
“Following a meeting of the National Development Panel, Rugby Australia, along with the State and Territory Member Unions, have unanimously agreed to postpone all community rugby until the first week of May, effective immediately including rugby matches and rugby training,” Club president Jarrod Marsden said.
The Cobar Netball Association has informed their players and members that all competitions, including the Net.Set.Go, Junior and Intermediate Netball and Senior Ladies competitions, as well as the season launch and umpire information sessions, would all be postponed, possibly until May.
Cobar Junior Rugby League’s season has also been postponed with the committee hoping they will be able to kick off in May.
All of the club’s training sessions have also been postponed.
The Cobar Auto Club cancelled their upcoming Dirt Track event and Cobar Junior Soccer Club’s ‘Come Try It Day’ was cancelled last Thursday.
Cancelling their seasons early are the Cobar Yabbies Senior Men’s Swimming Club, Cobar Little Athletics Club (including championships and presentations), Cobar Darts Association, as well as the Mixed Indoor Soccer, Squalleyball and Women’s Indoor Netball competitions at the Cobar Youth & Fitness Centre.
Parkrun was also not immune to the effects of the Coronavirus and, for the first time in its 15 years of operating, all Parkrun events worldwide (including the Cobar Parkrun) are now cancelled until further notice.
The Cobar Bowling & Golf Club cancelled its bowls events as of last week before the club was forced to shutdown and a decision about the future of golf competitions is to be discussed by the board this week.
Cobar Junior Cricket Association, who fortunately had finished their season, have decided not to hold their end of season presentations.
Junior cricket committee member Bob Cooney broke the ‘sad news’ to players and members last week.
“NSW Cricket has followed along with every other sporting organisation in Australia and are enforcing cancellation of all activities including end of season presentations and functions because of the virus pandemic.
“Sorry it has come to this but the safety of everyone is priority,” Mr Cooney said.
