Netball/rugby league: Ref still calls shots in codes

Andy Cracknell umpires indoor netball in Hastings. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

THIS MAY come as a surprise to those reading this online from regions outside of the Bay and overseas ... Andy Cracknell or "Sinbin Andy", as he is better known, is still blowing the whistle.

Cracknell, now 63, was ranked among the Bay's top three rugby league referees throughout the 80s and 90s. The former Flaxmere Falcons loosie first took up refereeing in 1979, the same year he started netball umpiring, and he has not missed a season in either code since.

"I was down at the old Sylvan Road netball courts in Hastings watching a game and I got ordered off the court for being too vocal. I told the umpire I didn't like her umpiring so after two warnings she told me to get over the fence.

"I was told to go to umpiring classes and be an umpire myself, so I did and I've never looked back," Cracknell recalled.

In the 90s, it was common for the Paki Paki-raised Cracknell to umpire up to six netball games during a morning before heading off to control a premier or premier reserve grade game of league. He still umpires up to premier one grade level at netball.

"Netball is now my biggest passion because league is so off and on. I hear there may be a Spring comp for league again so I'll be there," Cracknell said.

"As I've got older my tolerance levels have decreased. The league players know I don't muck around ... any sinbin offence they're gone. Sinbin Andy is probably more applicable now than when I was in my prime," he explained.

The father of three and grandfather of five's interpretation of the 10-metre rule on the league field is legendary.

"I love an open game and have always had a big 10 metres. Smart players and coaches adjust ... they know I'm consistent with it," Cracknell said.

A team leader in the freezers at Silver Fern Farms pacific plant at Whakatu for the past 39 years, Cracknell, ranked a premier final between Taradale Eagles and the Napier Bulldogs in the mid 90s as his best Bay club game.

"It was a thrilling close encounter which had everything and it was played in front of 3000 spectators," he recalled.

Cracknell always rated former world No 1 and Aussie kingpin Bill Harrigan as his favourite league ref.

"He was the man and is still the man ... everyone knew what he was doing."

On the netball scene, the Bay's former international umpire Pauline Sciascia had the biggest influence on Cracknell's umpiring.

"There has yet to be another in her class to come out of the Bay," he remarked.

Unlike many referees, Cracknell does not do any gym work.

"All the heavy lifting I do in the freezers is my gym work. I don't do any warm-ups either ... just like in my playing days I come straight out of the shed and into the game," he said with a grin.

Despite his 40 hours plus each week spent in the freezers, Cracknell still umpires indoor netball four or five nights each week. The modern disciplined athlete might be alarmed by his main fuel too - "plenty of ice cream."

A former touch referee, he ran out of time to stick with this code as well as his league and netball commitments, Cracknell was confident of at least another two seasons in both codes "if the body hangs in there."

The 2009 Ngati Kahungunu active kaumatua award recipient is awaiting the NRL clash between the Melbourne Storm and St George Illawara Dragons at Napier's McLean park. He predicted a close win to the Storm.

We could not end our chat with Cracknell without getting him to name his Unicorns team, a selection containing what he considered the best players in their respective positions during his days with the whistle. It is:

Peter Cordtz, Shane Foster, Maurice Cook, Dexter Traill, Richard Broughton, Tip Heretaunga, Larry Jacobs, Len Mataira, Peter Harmer, Mark Taurima, Ngavii Pekepo, Neil O'Dowd, Willie Tiopira.