Hawke's Bay rugby referees have blown the whistle for the last time on any games involving MAC at any level in Flaxmere this season.
"We've done it because of continued verbal abuse from players and spectators. Ground controllers appointed by the club can't manage the issue and it puts our referees at risk," Hawke's Bay Rugby Referees Association chairman Brent Malone said yesterday.
Referee Carl Jowsey had water poured over him after two MAC players were red-carded and another three yellow-carded during their 39-12 loss to Hastings Rugby and Sports at Flaxmere Park last weekend. In 2015 one of the Bay's top refs, Stu Catley, had a water bottle thrown at him after a Maddison Trophy first round encounter against Taradale.
In the reserve grade curtainraiser between the two clubs on the same day, which was called off, referee Jamie McFarland had a ball thrown at his head.
"I know in Carl's situation he worked hard to try and keep his cards in his pocket," Malone said.
"We're not singling out MAC. We've taken this stance with the support of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union for the safety of our referees and there are lots of positive clubs out there with good ground controllers," Malone stressed.
He pointed out the situation will be reviewed before the start of next season when referees will return to Ron Giorgi Park and Flaxmere Park for games involving MAC if the club has the right systems in place. Referees will continue to control games involving Flaxmere's division three team at Ron Giorgi Park this season.
"Clubs have got an obligation to help keep our referees safe," Malone added.
MAC Sports Association president and premier team co-coach Anthony Morley said while he was disappointed with what he described "as a harsh and bit over the top penalty" on his club and community he could see the situation from the referees perspective when it came to the safety and wellbeing of their members.
"We will put systems in place to fix up what needs to be fixed up.
"It is a blanket cover which affects our children as our 11th and 12th grade teams sometimes have referees and it affects our women's side which there has never been any problems with. Flaxmere is a sporting nursery and the bulk of the Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV players come from here. It's not just an MAC thing ... it affects our community," Morley said.
He said he cited Hastings Rugby and Sports captain and Magpies prop Jason Long for striking one of his players on the ground during Saturday's match and he was disappointed Wednesday night's judicial meeting found Long had no case to answer.
"I've got video evidence and I took the player who was struck along to the meeting. I've put the evidence up on YouTube so people can come to their own conclusions."
Club development officer for the union, Gary Macdonald, was yesterday still awaiting the sentences for two of the MAC players who were red-carded on Saturday and had their cases heard on Wednesday night. He pointed out Clive prop Nathan Bruce received a two-week suspension for kneeing a player during his team's loss to Taradale last week.
In the wake of the HBRRA's move the MAC club's premier side will take on defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys' Marist at Tamatea Park in their Tui Maddison Trophy first round clash from 3pm tomorrow. The 1.15pm curtainraiser will be a Development grade Jack Swain Cup encounter between the two clubs.
Other premier games will see Carters Frame and Truss Taradale host Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical in the feature game of the Mighty Maroons club day, K9 Petfoods Clive will host Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in the feature game of the riversiders club day, Northfuels Central will host Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports in Waipukurau and Progressive Meats Havelock North will host Tamatea at Anderson Park.