Spirit spot on at Jeans St

John Kendal didn't think twice when asked if he would referee the Tui Cup premier division rugby match between Pioneer and Martinborough at the Jeans St grounds in Masterton on Saturday.

Kendal, a former Pioneer player who captained Wairarapa-Bush during his 26 appearances for the union in the late 1990s and refereed here before moving to Wellington and on to Palmerston North, received a telephone call from Martinborough coach James Bruce on Friday night.

Bruce was wondering whether Kendal could fill a void made by a decision by the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Referees' Association not to appoint any referees for matches at Jeans St because of safety concerns and he was happy to oblige, even though he hadn't officially refereed for some four or five years.

Fortunately, however, the now Palmerston North Boys High teacher and coach of the Manawatu women's NPC team had the necessary qualifications to do the job and his agreement meant any chance of the game being called off was averted.

"James pointed out Martinborough had won by default the previous weekend and didn't really want to go another Saturday without a game," Kendal said.

"He asked me if I would step in and I thought, 'Why not'?

"If it meant a game of footy could be played then it seemed the right thing to do.

"Really it was just a matter of pulling on the boots again and getting out there and doing the best I could. It was all about rugby being the winner, wasn't it?"

The match, won by Pioneer 21-12, provided an enthralling contest with Kendal "thoroughly enjoying" the way players and spectators responded to the challenge of maintaining high behavioural standards throughout the whole 80 minutes.

"Believe me, I know how difficult it is for referees when they are being abused by players or spectators and this was an excellent example of how enjoyable rugby can be when the attitude and spirit is spot on.

"It should be like that every Saturday," Kendal said.

"Clubs and unions have to take responsibility.

"They have to work together to sort things out."