Syms, who's had about 33 years in rugby since first lacing up the boots at the age of about 6, said he'd answered the call last week as the match was close by in Central Hawke's Bay, and if straits were as dire again, he'd do it again.
The situation has been such that clubs have been told to make members available for associate referee courses, and with close to 50 games on Saturdays at the peak of the season, in Premier, Senior, Colts, Women's and secondary schools grades, clubs have at times had to provide their own referees, including the Senior 3 Division (an unofficial "President's" grade).
Even Hawke's Bay Union chief executive Jay Campbell was pressed into action, and there have been times when some referees have controlled at least two games in a day.
The weekly pressure for Hawke's Bay Rugby referees manager Keith Groube and appointments officer Mark Johnson will ease from July 3, when Premier to Colts rugby will be over apart from semifinals and finals over the following fortnight.
Groube says the job of increasing numbers remains, in the hope that arms no longer have to be twisted to be able to provide referees for all the games being played.
Syms sees it as some sort of obligation, saying the sport has "given, given, given" to players who, when the time comes, need to step up and "give something back."
