Batemans Bay Tigers in crisis talks

Batemans Bay Tigers officials have scheduled a crisis meeting in a bid to prevent a repeat of Saturday's embarrassing forfeit debacle.The Tigers had nine players available for their Group Seven clash with Berry-Shoalhaven Heads, leaving coach Steve Elliott no choice but to call off the round-eight game.Adding to the controversy was the fact Batemans Bay had 19 players prepared to play reserve grade.The drama culminated in a heated verbal exchange on the sideline between Tigers players after the reserve grade match.Tigers management was extremely disappointed the club was unable to field a first grade team and will meet tonight to discuss its next move."All the relevant details will be discussed and hopefully we'll resolve the problem, and I really can't make any further comment other than that," Batemans Bay president Bob Mitchell said.Mitchell confirmed the forfeit was the first in the Tigers' 113-year existence, highlighting how far the club has fallen since capturing the 2002 premiership.Group Seven general manager Jim McAuliffe said he would be "seeking an explanation" from the Tigers."We'll wait until we get a full report from the club as to what actually transpired, but obviously we see it as a major issue," McAuliffe said."It's certainly an area of concern when any team forfeits and it needs to be sorted out quickly because it can't happen again."Elliott has done everything in his power to make players commit to first grade.On Sunday, he suggested it was time for the club's committee to take a stand by "pulling second grade out" if players refused to train and remained unavailable for top grade selection.Elliott found an ally in Warilla coach Peter Hooper, who urged the Tigers' committee to "get tough" on recalcitrant players."Five years ago a few blokes in our club were backing up and playing two games, and my attitude is that if you want to play second grade, go and play somewhere else," Hooper said."I feel sorry for Steve because he's a great bloke and a great clubman. I don't know what's going on down there but it wouldn't happen at this club."Also sympathising for Elliott was Berry captain-coach Trent Burns."It was disappointing that it had to be a forfeit, but I understood where he was coming from. I know he didn't take the decision lightly and I feel for him as a bloke and a coach," Burns said."It would've been nice to know before the weekend. It wasn't fair to the boys because they were all dressed up and ready to go and it wasn't fair to the crowd who'd paid their money."From our club's point of view there's also lots of variables it effects. Our prop Gavin Jarrett is in the running for player of the year and he missed the chance to get more points and it also impacts on our for and against record."Obviously there's some internal problems at Batemans Bay, but there's some good quality people down there and it'd be a travesty if they can't sort it out because they've been in Group Seven since day dot."It's never a good look when you have to forfeit and hopefully it doesn't happen again, for Batemans Bay's sake and for the betterment of the group."