A Hastings premier Maddison Trophy rugby side has had five championship points deducted and gone into the red after fielding an unregistered player against MAC last Saturday.
Yet to win in this season's competition, Tamatea had recorded three bonus points, having had a bye in the first weekend, and gettingthe bonus for getting within seven points in two matches, the first when beaten 19-13 by Havelock North and the second when beaten by MAC 34-33, a match that also attracted a bonus for scoring four or more tries.
The stripping of the points places the team at the bottom of the 11-team table with minus 2 points in what is the 40th anniversary year of the club's only winning of the championship, in 1982.
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union club development manager Sean Davies said: "Hawke's Bay Rugby takes no pleasure in having to penalise clubs in this manner, however, we must remain consistent in our approach for the integrity of the premier-grade competition."
He said registration was most important because of the possible ramifications, including affecting eligibility for support, in cases of injury.
While most registration is done early in the season, the union is aware of last-minute situations, and enables notice of player registration to be done at the very latest stage pre-match if necessary.
In the fourth round of the competition on Saturday, Tamatea have a home game at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings, against Hastings Rugby and Sports.
Uneaten competition leader Napier Tech OB are also at home at Whitmore Park, Napier, against Napier Pirates, who have lost both games to date, and Havelock North who, like Tech, have also won all three games so far, play Napier OBM at Tremain Field, Park Island.
Defending champions Taradale, with two wins from two games, play Clive at Farndon Park, Clive, and MAC play Dannevirke side Aotea at Flaxmere Park.
The advent of duck shooting season meant one division 2 Country game being played on Thursday night. Porangahau beat Central 13-10 at Central Park, Waipukurau.
