Pukekohe Netball Centre has made the difficult decision to abandon the winter season with no winners confirmed after Monday’s government announcement to move Auckland to Alert Level 3 for the next fortnight.

Centre management met on Monday to decide how to proceed and have reluctantly conceded that COVID will prevent a re-start to the competition.

The semi-finals in each grade had been completed when the latest COVID outbreak occurred and the centre hoped to be able to re-start in time to run finals day but that wasn’t to be.

“Given the government’s latest announcement we are very disappointed to advise the playing of the netball finals for the 2021 winter season have been abandoned,” Pukekohe Netball Centre said via an email to members.

“We have tried very hard to make this work however in this time of uncertainty the decision has been made by the Centre Executive to abandon. This is also in line with Netball New Zealand’s directive of no centre winter netball after October 11th.

“Our player welfare was taken into consideration as it has now been a number of weeks since last playing or training.

“Being in Level 3 until October 4th and the possibility of further extensions to this along with the school holidays approaching we are unable to complete this season.

“We are hoping the Y1 to Y4 program will go ahead starting end of October along with the Summer League.

“We all feel your disappointment and appreciate the efforts and dedication put into the 2021 winter season.

“We are very hopeful of a complete season in 2022.”

The club football and rugby league seasons have also been abandoned.