A Hawke's Bay rugby referee was verbally threatened and a ball thrown at his head in one of two incidents of abuse at Flaxmere Park on Saturday.
"We're disappointed. We've had three cases of abuse in three weeks ... it's hard enough attracting recruits and retaining them without this sort
of behaviour," Hawke's Bay Rugby Referees Association chairman Bruce Dockary said.
Jamie McFarland had a ball thrown at him and verbal abuse hurled his way from MAC players and supporters after he called their reserve grade match against Taradale off early when one of their players reacted poorly after being red carded.
Another ref, Stu Catley, had a water bottle thrown at him by a MAC player at the end of the premier game between the same two clubs.
A policeman, Mr Catley, was considering whether a criminal charge may be appropriate for the offender, according to Mr Dockary, who hopes Hawke's Bay Rugby Union officials take the necessary action againstthe offenders.
