Suspended Gosford player Rhiley Carr had his appeal dismissed by Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League officials on Monday night meaning he will miss next weekend’s grand final.
Carr took his case back to the judiciary in a bid to reduce an eight-game sentence, which was handed down last month.
The ban, from a category two striking charge, followed his part in an on-field altercation midway through the round 19 fixture between Gosford and Norths in Newcastle on August 12.
He has since been sidelined, out for the last two rounds and Sunday’s re-match against Norths.
Minor premiers and title holders Gosford defeated second-placed Norths 5-0 in the major semi-final on the Central Coast and now progress straight through to the decider on September 16.
Gosford and Norths have met in the previous three grand finals with the Magpies successful in both 2015 and 2017 while the Blues were triumphant in between.
Norths, down goalkeeper Shaun O’Brien who was suspended for 12 matches from the same incident, now tackle Souths in Sunday’s preliminary final.
