It was a crazy Saturday for Canberra's local sports competitions with tonnes of thrilling action on the field and just as much drama off it.
Canberra White Eagles were left frustrated as their under-23s and first grade men's National Premier League home matches against Canberra Croatia were forced to be postponed.
Patchy grass across Boomanulla Oval was deemed "unfit for play" by referees before the under-23s match, and despite initial efforts to change the location of the first grade match to Deakin Stadium, it too was ultimately postponed.
Similar incidents of poor field conditions causing cancelled NPL matches occurred in Kambah last month.
In addition to the postponement costing White Eagles thousands of dollars of lost canteen revenue - as well as wasted food stock - the club is now also forced to scramble to find a mid-week ground to play the NPL matches when there is already a facility availability crunch.
It continues a long battle for White Eagles to find a permanent home. The club had originally played at Woden Enclosed this season, but were told to move to Boomanulla Oval by ACT Sports Grounds.
That field doesn't have lights approved for NPL, which means some night matches hosted by White Eagles can't be at their home ground, and so the club then has to play at another venue.
For the last two years the club has been lobbying ACT Sports Grounds to get access to a venue they would be able to help maintain themselves, and call their permanent home.
"Everyone is disappointed, because we're here just to play football," White Eagles technical director Michael Milutinovic said.
"It's frustrating because we're not allowed to actually do anything with the maintenance.
"Training fields this year have been a nightmare.
"We've tried different avenues to take on an unused ground, and we'll take on the maintenance, just give us the opportunity."
In the other three NPL top-grade matches on Saturday, Monaro Panthers won the derby against Queanbeyan City, 5-2, Tuggeranong United defeated O'Connor Knights 3-2 and Brindabella Blues were beaten by Belconnen United, 4-1.
There were some great fightback efforts by Wests Lions and Uni-North Owls in the John I Dent Cup, but Canberra Royals and Gungahlin Eagles were just too good.
The Eagles' 28-22 win and the Royals' 34-22 triumph helps the latter be hot the heels of second-placed Queanbeyan Whites behind ladder-leaders Tuggeranong Vikings. The top-two teams both had byes in round nine.
The Tuggeranong Bushrangers held on for a superb 10-point win over Goulburn in the Canberra Raiders Cup, but not before a nervy final couple of minutes when five-eighth Wezley Alexander-McCarthy was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
The Bushrangers playmaker lifted Bulldogs back-rower Mitchell Latham in a tackle, and immediately knew he'd done the wrong thing and apologised.
However, the referee didn't bother with a sin-bin, and sent off the No.6 on the spot.
"He's landed on his head, you're off," said the referee.
In the other matches, Woden Valley defeated the Bulls 40-16, the Blues downs Yass 24-20 at Seiffert Oval and West Belconnen edged the Sharks 44-38.
In the Katrina Fanning Shield, the Rams got up over Gungahlin 16-10, Queanbeyan thumped the Blues 26-0 and the Warriors defeated Belconnen United, 18-10.
The Canberra Times captured all the amazing shots from the under-19s men's rugby league at NSW Rugby League HQ at Bruce, as well as Katrina Fanning Shield action between the Warriors and Sharks at the same ground.
Check out the bumper photo gallery below!
Tuggeranong United officials turned up on Saturday morning to find Wanniassa Oval 2 had once again been targeted by hoons tearing up the grass.
After repair work from ACT government staff and dedicated club volunteers, the turf was actually on the mend after some nice rain and sunshine in recent days.
"This is beyond a joke," said one Tuggeranong United volunteer.
"This s--- ruins it for the kids playing sports on the weekend and the whole community including the schools that use the oval."
It comes as the police operation to tackle such behaviour commenced on Friday, and has seen additional police presence around sportsgrounds in Canberra.
The police crackdown was noticeable with motorcycle patrols spotted near Kaleen Playing Fields on the weekend.
The operation is designed to address growing concerns in the community about anti-social behaviour from motorcycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, and cars, as well as illegal vehicles.
