Four players cited from premier brawl

File picture

RUGBY

FOUR players — two from OBM and two from YMP —have been cited following the brawl that marred the Poverty Bay premier club game between the teams at Rugby Park on Saturday.

Te Peehi Fairlie (YMP winger), Ngahiwi Manuel (OBM No.8) and Jacob Cook (OBM lock ) have been cited by the Poverty Bay Rugby Union after officials viewed video footage of the incident.

YMP reserve forward ?Simonne Akurangi has been cited by a spectator.

Poverty Bay Rugby Union chief executive Josh Willoughy said the clubs were notified yesterday that a judicial committee meeting would be held on Thursday night.

“It’s not a good look for the sport and as a union we certainly don’t condone this type of action,” Willoughy said.

“I wasn’t at the game but I have spoken to a union official who was in attendance. I have also spoken to others who were close to the action.”

Willoughy would not comment on what action would be taken but from previous incidents such as this, the players involved could receive severe suspensions that could rule them out of the semifinals and possibly the final.

YMP are on course to play Ngatapa (2 v 3) in one semifinal while OBM (4) look likely to meet top-of-the-table Waikohu in the other.

A late tackle by Cook on YMP fullback Brian Whaitiri-White, after he kicked the ball into touch to end the first half, sparked the brawl.

YMP players took exception to the tackle and what followed was not a good advertisement for rugby.

Referee Royce Maynard yellow-carded Cook for the tackle.

Not all who were involved in the fracas were guilty of throwing punches. The majority of players from both teams tried to act as peacemakers.