Rugby: Dockary kept at it despite the flak

Bruce Dockary (right) on the way to making the most controversial decision of his career, disallowing a try Magpies prop Sona Taumalolo scored in a 2009 clash against Canterbury. Photo/File

Bruce Dockary will always be remembered for that 2009 call he made as an assistant referee.

A split decision without the assistance of a television match official saw Dockary incorrectly rule Magpies prop Sona Taumalolo had been forced into touch before scoring a try which would have secured a draw had it been converted in a 27-20 loss to Canterbury at Napiers McLean Park. During the week after the match, Dockary house was bombarded with eggs and family members verbally abused.

The deck of his Havelock North home had to be re-stained and the garage door repainted after the egg attack. Dockary spent three months re-evaluating his future as a referee before deciding to continue. I still get some shit about that call. Fortunately its on good-fun terms, Dockary recalled last night.

One of Hawkes Bay sports genuine good guys, Dockary, 53, will be rewarded for that decision to continue when he becomes what is believed to be the provinces first referee to control 150 premier club games when Clive host Tamatea at Farndon Park on June 14.

"I'm on 148 games at the moment and will do one more premier game and a couple of colts games before then. Being a former Clive player I thought it would be appropriate to bring up the milestone at Farndon Park, Dockary," a former Clive first five-eighth, explained.

Although he started refereeing as a teenager his first premier game was a 2001 clash between Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports and Taradale at Park Island. The 2009 Maddison Trophy final between these two clubs, which Taradale won 18-10, features among Dockary's list of highlights.

Others include the 2008 regional final in Tonga, a 2006 Maddison Trophy semifinal between Havelock North and Napier Old Boys Marist which the villagers won 24-15 in extra time and a match between the Hawkes Bay under-20s and a Canadian Invitation side.

Despite his advancing years and admitting it is becoming harder to put in the necessary training to stay at premier level, Dockary said he has no plans to step down from the premier ranks in the immediate future.

"I've still got the hunger to continue. When I step down I will continue to referee in the lower grades. The blokes who do the division three games on a regular basis keep our association going," Dockary said.

A procurement manager with the Unison Group, Dockary is full of praise for the coaching he has received from the Napier pair of Les Mockford and Alan Mettrick and Waipukuraus Stephen Smith. He was quick to reply when asked that his refereeing idol was former Hawkes Bay-based international referee Kelvin Deaker, who retired when still in his prime.

"In my eyes Kelvin was New Zealand's No.1 who got a bit of a stiff deal at times."

The way he managed a game always impressed me. Kelvin always said you can know the laws backwards but if you cant manage people you will have some problems.

Dockary believed there was at least three referees in the Bay who have the potential to follow a path similar to Deaker.

"I won't name them in case some of the other younger blokes get upset."

Classy people management skills yet again from a bloke who runs up to 8km each lunch time as part of his quest to remain in the premier ranks.

"If you don't have that base youre in trouble ... it does get harder as you get older," Dockary added.