Harbour seek judicial change

By CHRIS RATTUE

SOUTHLAND 23 NORTH HARBOUR 21

North Harbour boss Doug Rollerson wants rugby referees given the power to put players on report.

Former All Black Rollerson made the call in the aftermath of Southland's controversial NPC win over Harbour in Invercargill.

No 8s Ron Cribb and Paul Miller were sent off by referee Bryce Lawrence after a 68th-minute brawl between the packs, while instigators Troy Flavell and Jason Rutledge were sinbinned.

All Blacks Cribb and Miller, who probably had little reason to celebrate his 26th birthday today, will front a judicial hearing on Wednesday, but there are no other citings.

A linesman's report to Lawrence appeared to downplay the incident, but Lawrence still reached for his cards.

Rollerson called on rugby to introduce the rugby league-style report system, giving referees another option if they weren't totally sure a red or yellow-card offence had occurred.

"I'm not making any excuses for our defeat - this is about what's best for the game," said Rollerson.

"And you wouldn't want an epidemic of players being put on report for every little thing that goes on.

"But I believe coaches, players and spectators would support the idea.

"If a report system was brought in, what happened in Invercargill might have been an ideal situation to use it."

Rollerson said when players were sent off it did not only "stuff things up for the teams and players" but also could ruin the game as a spectacle.

"It's impossible for the referee and linesmen to see everything. A player might be left lying on the ground, but the replay will show that the tackle was fair.

"It's definitely worked in rugby league. It's a very sensible option available to their referees if they are not absolutely sure what has gone on."

The flare-up occurred near the North Harbour goal-line, when hooker Rutledge drove through on to Flavell and the pair came to blows.

Miller and Cribb were duelling after the whistle, and then chatted as they walked to the sideline after Lawrence red-carded them.

Flavell has already had a lengthy suspension this year and been involved in some dicey incidents in the first two NPC rounds, but Rollerson said the All Black discard - who has a hot-head reputation - is copping undue attention from the public and referees.

"He plays hard rugby and I'd rather crawl into a hole than ask my players to back down," said Rollerson.

Harbour have lost their opening three NPC matches and are planted in the relegation zone after Saturday's defeat.

They were without first five-eighths Luke McAlister because of a hamstring injury. Three-quarter Nick Evans, an Aussie rules exponent who plays first five-eighths for his rugby club, moved in to replace McAlister and used a prodigious punt to good effect.

But North Harbour again lacked cohesion and now face the possibility of losing their captain Cribb.

In a bizarre moment, Southland kicker Gavin Williams had a penalty goal ruled out because Lawrence spotted his team-mates ahead of the kick. But Williams nailed a later penalty to get Southland their first win of the season.