Rugby: Three weeks too little: Rosser

Tamatea club stalwart Dennis Rosser was ropable yesterday after learning the outcome of a Hawke's Bay union judicial hearing involving Clive frontrower Nathan Bruce.

"Does the union condone one player kicking another player's head? I thought Nathan would have been gone for the rest of the season," Rosser said.

He was reacting to the three-week suspension Bruce received at a judicial hearing in Napier on Tuesday night. Bruce had been ordered off by referee Carl Jowsey with 10 minutes to go in his team's 16-5 Maddison Trophy second round win against Tamatea at Farndon Park on Saturday for kicking Tamatea first five-eighth Jimmy Harris.

Tamatea flanker Fred Jackson received a three-week suspension for running on to the field from the sideline and punching Bruce after the initial incident. Jackson had been substituted earlier in the game.

"I have no qualms with Fred receiving a suspension but Nathan should have got more," Rosser added.

Union judicial chairman Blair Robinson declined to comment on Rosser's reaction.

These suspensions have been the biggest to date this season from the premier grade.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Referees Association chairman Bruce Dockary said the discipline throughout all grades has been "pretty good" this season.

"The majority of teams are wanting to play positive rugby. There had been the odd red card handed out prior to the weekend and these have usually resulted in a mandatory two-week stand down where no judicial hearing is required."

Dockary pointed out he controlled a colts grade game recently and both the standard of rugby and discipline levels were "pretty pleasing."

"A big improvement from what we've experienced in this grade in recent seasons," he added.