THUNDER rumbled and boomed on Tuesday signalling ominous prospects for 12 high school netball teams who were raring to play the Tracey Gunson Shield finals later in the afternoon.
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Netball convener Timothy Bacon postponed all six games set to be played at the Wagga Equex Centre an hour before the toss as policy stipulates that games can not run during the likely event of thunder and lightning.
“There’s an increased risk of sprains, muscle injuries, possible breaks and the worst case scenario, being such an open area, the kids are more at risk of getting struck by lightning,” Bacon said.
Bacon has rescheduled the finals for Thursday May 21, pending confirmation from participating schools.
Bacon did not consider moving the finals to an undercover venue.
“Finding a venue that could house the vast amount of teams we have playing at such short notice would be a logistical nightmare,” Bacon explained.
Inclement weather rarely impacts netball games at the Wagga Equex Centre, as the court surface was designed to reduce the risk of slipping in the rain.
It has been five years since a Tracey Gunson Shield game was affected by thunder and lightning, and in that case, teams had played into the third quarter and results were recorded.
