The men’s Strikers may have contested last year’s Pascoe Cup final but not even a final round win over ladder-leaders Henwood Park can save them from competing in the second-tier Plate finals series.
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It comes after a Football Wagga meeting on Monday revealed teams outside the top four in the Pascoe Cup competition were scheduled for fifth-place playoffs.
Speaking on Thursday, Strikers club president James Philpot said there had never been an official rule change despite the vast majority of clubs voting against the decision.
“We were wrongly under the assumption the Pascoe Plate wasn’t going to be played this year,” Philpot said.
“Earlier in the season, the clubs got together and all but one club agreed that the Plate had run it’s course.
“However the decision had to be unanimous and we’re locked into this Plate competition as a result.”
It’s a decision that has frustrated the Strikers’ playing unit, with captain Adam McPhail struggling to find positives.
“Somehow we missed the memo and it’s still a go-ahead,” he said.
“To me it’s a frustrating system,” he said
The Pascoe Plate will doubtless come under review ahead of next season however Philpot believes the side must regroup and focus in what promises to be a competitive series.
“We’ll probably push for rule changes in 2018 because it is frustrating,” he said.
“It’s a shame not to be playing Cup finals and we’re disappointed about the misunderstanding with Football Wagga.”
“That being said, hopefully they can get up for the Plate finals because it’s still a finals series.
“We’ll have plenty of fresh legs from the Gardiner side and some of the sides we’ll play are decent teams.
“I’m sure the boys will go out to do their very best.”
McPhail agreed, saying their side must overcome their sentiment and win the Plate convincingly.
“We’ll look silly as runners-up … so we may as well get out there and win it,” McPhail said.
Meanwhile the women’s Strikers will be out to cap their regular season with a strong showing against minor premiers Tolland Wolves this Sunday.
Tolland are undefeated this season and will test the Strikers’ defence at Rawlings Park ahead of their maiden Plate campaign.
