ALL clubs involved in games under Manning Hockey Association's jurisdiction in the future will abide by all competition rules set down by Manning Hockey.
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This will include mandatory suspensions. Manning Hockey's board made this decision following the controversy that erupted after last weekend's division one women's minor semi-final, won 3-0 by Tacking Point Thunder over Taree Tigers.
A Tacking Point Thunder player was red carded (sent off) in the final competition match. Under Manning rules this carries an automatic one game suspension. A Manning player receiving a red card in a final round game would have sat out the opening week of the semi-finals.
However, the Thunder player was given permission by the Port Macquarie Hastings Hockey Association executive to play in the semi.
This was queried by the Tigers club and Manning umpires and the matter was referred to the Port Macquarie Hastings association by Manning Hockey. On Wednesday Port Macquarie confirmed the player was cleared to take her place.
A specially convened meeting of the Manning board on Wednesday night discussed the matter.
"The result will stand,'' Manning Hockey Association president Debbie Monck said.
"The board determined the player in question understood she had been cleared to play by her association. We didn't think it was fair to penalise the player or the team.''
Thunder will now meet defending premiers Town in the preliminary final on Saturday night from 6.30.
However, Ms Monck said the process whereby the player was cleared created the problem. She admits judiciary matters were a 'grey area' created by the teams from the Port Macquarie Hastings association playing in the Manning competitions.
It had been agreed earlier that judiciary matters involving Thunder players would be handled by the Hastings association.
Ms Monck said this will no longer be the case and any player from an outside association involved in a game under Manning hockey's jurisdiction will comply by this association's rules. This will now include judiciary matters.
Winner of the Thunder/Town game will move to the grand final where they'll play Sharks.
The finals of Manning Hockey's senior and junior competitions will be played on Saturday.
