What better way to kick off the season than a home game win? The Narooma Lions Seniors conquered the Tathra Sea Eagles 79-49 at the weekend.
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The Lions missed some early opportunities, but kept the Sea Eagles scoreless at half time, 25-0. Coach Colin Fosternally said the team "revved up" for the third quarter.
"We used the ball a lot better and there was cleaner football being played," Fosternally said.
Jai Reed and Luke 'Red Dog' Talty were handy in the forward line, helping secure the 30-point victory.
Will Hodge and Jack Clothier led a strong defensive line that will be put to the test in next weekend's game against Merimbula Diggers.
The Diggers had devoured Pambula Panthers, 72-21.
With a COVID outbreak unfolding in the north of the shire, Fosternally said the Lions would monitor the situation: "We are taking advice from South Coast AFL; at this stage it's still going on a week-to-week basis."
It's a different story for the Batemans Bay Seahawks, whose season was up in the air. The Seahawks cancelled training until further notice. President Heath Petterwood said the club was in discussion with South Coast and Canberra AFL as to whether the Seahawks' season would go ahead.
"Players declined coming to training and we support that for their health, so training is off this week. The primary concern is everyone's health," Petterwood said.
READ MORE: Making sense of AFL in 2020
The COVID-19 testing clinic at Hanging Rock has put extra pressure on sporting clubs that use the facility. Aussie Rules did not go ahead at the weekend due to the visiting teams' concern for COVID-19.
The pop-up testing clinic was set up on Thursday and Friday's late night news of COVID cases at Batemans Bay caused a frantic rush for testing that Saturday morning.
Petterwood felt the clinic was not at a suitable location: "I know it has to be somewhere, but not at the largest sporting hub in the shire."
The Hanging Rock Sporting Complex is home to basketball, tennis, Aussie Rules, Rugby Union and cricket. The scene on Saturday morning was a flurry of health workers wearing masks, directing cars backed up to the tennis courts.
The car park was full of people waiting patiently, wearing masks to get tested. Petterwood said three ANU Griffins grades pulled out Saturday morning.
"They had forfeited due to their concerns with COVID - their biggest concern was the testing being done in the car park," he said.
I think there would have been a game had they not set up the testing clinic in the car park
- Seahawks president Heath Petterwood
"We're totally understanding, it's all about health, but I think there would have been a game had they not set up the testing clinic in the car park."
The council granted access to NSW Health to position the clinic at Hanging Rock for two weeks. The council said a meeting would be held tomorrow to review the clinic's location.
In Rugby League, the Narooma Devils Juniors were in high spirits for their first games of the season at Bega. After a "communication breakdown", and fears juniors would not get a run this season, the Devils are back on track under the guidance of NSW Rugby League.
Community engagement officer Jake McDonald said the Devils have a secure place in this season's fixture.
"All parties had an open discussion with all intentions to move forward; the whole concept was to get kids playing footy. Everyone is on board in the same direction," he said.
The Devils play at home this weekend against Tathra.
