Top ref replies to criticism

CRITICISM of the standard of refereeing in Heartland championship rugby this season hasn't fallen on deaf ears.
Colin Hawke, pictured right, the NZRFU's high performance refereeing coach, contacted the Times-Age yesterday to discuss comments made in a Caffell on Sport column last week and agreed many of the points made there had some validity about them.
In the column Times-Age sports editor Gary Caffell questioned the fairness of Heartland games being used to "trial" the capabilities of up-and-coming referees.
"Sure, these sides may not have the skills of those competing in the top tier of provincial rugby, the Air NZ Cup. But they aren't so bad that they deserve officials who still have their learner plates," Caffell wrote.
"What has been forgotten by those making the refereeing appointments is that most of the Heartland teams contain a nucleus of experienced campaigners who have been around long enough to know every trick in the book.
"These players would test the patience of any referee and when they are being confronted by a young buck still wet behind the ears, they are in their element?and how!"
Caffell said in game after game referees had lost the plot simply because they hadn't been able to cope with the "advice" being handed out to them by players, and probably spectators for that matter.
"What generally happens then is that they basically sit on the whistle and the matches become static, boring affairs going from one set piece to the next."
Caffell also slammed Heartland referees for not playing the advantage rule to any extent and for not being consistent in their decision making, often giving a penalty for a misdemeanour one minute and then setting a scrum for exactly the same offence the next.
"One hopes that now the Heartland championship is about to reach its semi-final stages the standard of refereeing will reach higher planes, and the quality of rugby will be enhanced as a result.We could do with both?big time!" Caffell said
Hawke pointed out that the referees used in Heartland games were part of a squad of 20 of what was considered to be the best referees in the country. The top seven of them were full time referees who officiated in the Air New Zealand Cup, along with two others specially contracted for that competition. And the other 11 were appointed to Heartland games.
While agreeing that many of the Heartland referees were young in age. Hawke said those responsible for refereeing appointments did not have a deliberate youth policy.
"The Heartland referees are there because we believe they have the potential to go right to the top," he said. "Obviously some won't make it, but hopefully the bulk of them will."
Hawke conceded that "blooding" referees in what were usually very competitive Heartland games was not ideal for either the referee or the teams concerned but said there was little alternative.
"It is the next highest competition to the premier league, and we need to know if they can handle that type of pressure before moving them up to the next tier," he said.
Hawke is optimistic that most of the referees controlling Heartland games this season will benefit enough from the experience for them to referee in the Air NZ Cup in the not-too-distant future.
"We monitor them very carefully in every game and most of them seem to be doing OK," he said. " And, of course, we'd expect them to be better prepared next season for what lies ahead of them."
Hawke also stressed the importance of touch judges being competent enough to be a second pair of eyes for the referees.
In most Heartland games the touch judges were local referees and it was vital that they ensured that the man in the middle was being given every possible assistance to make the right decisions.
"There are always situations in a game where referees are unsighted and rely on the touch judges to help them out so they need to be right on the ball too," he said.