THE Bendigo Spirit's WNBL game against Townsville and round seven of the Emu Valley Cricket Association have both been added to the list of weekend COVID sporting postponements.
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The Spirit have been severely impacted by COVID, with four positive cases within the team confirmed this week adding Sunday's Townsville v Bendigo game to the growing list of postponed WNBL matches in round six.
The Spirit team on Friday began a seven-day period of isolation and have now had two postponed games this season after their December 29 home match against Sydney Uni was unable to go ahead due to a Flames team member testing positive to COVID.
"We're putting protocols in place in terms of managing and supporting the players and staff and we're working with both Basketball Australia and our club doctor through this period," Bendigo Stadium chief executive officer Dennis Bice said on Friday.
The EVCA board made the decision on Thursday night to call off this Saturday's round seven games after receiving notification from five clubs that have been impacted by reduced numbers due to players in isolation through a mix of positive cases and awaiting results.
EVCA president Ron Gray said as of Friday morning there were between 20 and 30 EVCA players isolating.
"What's important is we want to do the right thing in terms of having a safe playing environment and for our clubs to be able to put competitive sides on the park, so that's why we've made this decision," Gray said.
At this stage the EVCA pause is for Saturday's matches only, with a meeting to be held with clubs on Monday night to further discuss the situation.
The EVCA board's decision came 24 hours after the Bendigo District Cricket Association postponed its next two weeks of matches and training due to the COVID impact on clubs.
While there will be no Bendigo Spirit, BDCA or EVCA games played this weekend, the Bendigo premier lawn bowls competition will resume from its Christmas-New Year break.
A double-header of weekend matches will be played on Saturday (round eight) and Sunday (round nine), with the Bendigo Campapse Goldfields region reminding all clubs "to continue to follow all COVID protocols".
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