Grand Final Winners Dumped From Titles
Illawarra Mercury
Monday September 11, 2000
Sour grapes have cost the Wollongong Wolves under 16 girls team a place in the State championships, according to a club official.
Treasurer Edith Graham said yesterday officials were told on Thursday they would not be going to Orange.
She said that was just 24 hours before they played their grand final against Canterbury.
Wollongong beat Canterbury 3-0 at Berkeley Sportsground but at that stage the girls weren't aware they were not going to Orange.
Officials decided not to tell them they weren't going to Orange until after the grand final.
The two teams which played in the grand final were originally to contest the state titles.
However, that rule was changed two weeks ago so that the top two teams on the ladder would go to Orange.
That was after it became clear the Wolves finished equal top. Mrs Graham said Wollongong was never informed of the change.
The Wolves had three points deducted from their first game of the season against Southern Districts (Marconi) because of a problem with ID cards.
That meant they did not finish in the top two.
At the time, competition secretary Geoff Hatchman told the Wollongong club not to worry about the three points because other clubs had the same problem.
``Now it has become a case of sour grapes," Mrs Graham said yesterday.
``Parents of the Wollongong players had booked accommodation and taken holidays to go with the girls to Orange.
``Southern Districts has gone to Orange in our place and we have now discovered parents associated with this team booked accommodation more than two weeks ago.
``We only found out what was happening on Thursday; it is really amazing.
``Our girls are so disappointed because they should have been in Orange on Saturday to start playing today (Sunday).
``I am disgusted with what happened and we are now wondering if the NSW amateur body will take our grand final win off us."
On Friday night, the Wolves, with an average age of 14, played very well to beat Canterbury. Amanda Cegovski gave Wollongong the lead after 10 minutes with a fine header off a corner kick. Canterbury then put on a lot of pressure before Wollongong scored two quick goals before half-time.
Michelle Light headed in her first goal of the season then Lynie Herbert made it 3-0.
In the second half, Canterbury tried hard to get back into the game but Wolves goalkeeper Holly Ginger made a number of good saves.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury
