FINGAL Bay Rugby League Club's men's team has been promoted back into A-grade of the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League following a re-grading on Monday night due to a breach of competition rules.
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The NHRL committee said the "calibre of players" Western Suburbs fielded in round three of competition at the weekend was outside of its guidelines and in order to allow them to field players without disadvantaging other clubs, had been promoted to A-grade.
The committee was then faced with the decision to promote another team to A-grade or demote a team to B-grade to make the competitions fair.
Due to a number of committee members having ties to teams in the grades, a decision was made by an independent committee.
Based on squads and performance in the last three rounds, a decision was made to promote Fingal Bay to A-grade.
The re-grading decision followed a strong win from the Bomboras on Saturday, triumphing over Wallsend 40-10.
In a very physical contest, they controlled the game from the opening whistle and lead 22-4 at halftime.
The slick Fingal backline looked sharp on the back of a hard working forward pack with fullback Isaac Upton and clever half Tyler Perrin sharing the players' player award.
Meanwhile, the Bomboras ladies league tag team climbed to the top of the ladder with a powerful 26-4 win over Greta-Branxton.
Once again the Fingal wall went up with the ladies team only conceding one try in their last three outings - a credit to the girls and coaching staff.
Jordie Bennett had a great game and won the players' player award while Bec Hawthorn continues to get the hard yards up front.
The Bomboras men won the A-grade premiership in 2017 following a B-grade premiership the year before. Fingal Bay remained in A-grade until 2019 when the side played B-grade fixtures.
A draw is now being finalised for the next six rounds of the A- and B-grade NHRL competitions.
The Bomboras were due to face Mallabula Panthers in a local derby at Fingal Oval on Saturday, which will now change.
Fingal club stalwart and tackling tyro Ben Schneider will celebrate his 100th game on Saturday.