Rugby: Bridge too far for Cullinane captain

Big Cullinane prop Cory Pikimaui scores in the second half against St Patrick's. Photo/Bevan Conley

What was supposed to be a game to promote development of schoolboy rugby depth instead finished with a contentious debate over the rules of the game after Cullinane College's First XV beat a St Patrick's College development team 46-29 yesterday afternoon.

The Wellington school is sending a squad of their second-tier players on a Central North Island tour during the holidays to foster prospects for their First XV, while Cullinane also used the occasion to blood a number of their junior players at a higher level.

There was a willingness from both sides to open up play with at least 12 tries being scored in the match, Cullinane leading 29-5 at halftime.

However, there was a strange postscript late in the contest after referee Mark Wilson sent off Cullinane captain and standout No8 Reggie Boult for impeding the ball at the breakdown by "bridging".

Wilson had already handed out a yellow card to another Cullinane forward for a similar offence earlier in the second half, along with a St Patrick's forward for rough obstruction after Cullinane had been awarded a penalty on the tryline.

Wilson had called Boult over for a final warning about his team's bridging before the dismissal, with Boult bending down to demonstrate his players were staying on their feet, but using their hands on the ground to steady themselves, which he interpreted to be legal.

Having been reduced to 14 for the final 12 minutes, Cullinane let in three more tries from St Patrick's breakaways, while scoring another themselves out wide.

Cullinane coach Hayden Hepburn got into a prolonged debate with Wilson following the match about the harsh merits of a red card for that kind of professional foul, while his assistant Vaan Rauhina, over 50 Heartland Championship games for Wanganui, said he could never recall such a decision in his career.

Rauhina praised Boult for otherwise having an excellent game, as did his brother Adam Boult on the wing.

Openside flanker Te Hiiri Ponga and fullback Kody Edwards were the other standouts.

Normal protocol dictates a player sent off in Wanganui rugby will receive an automatic two-week, stand-down period, however appeals can be made to the Wanganui Football Rugby Union if it is felt there are extenuating circumstances.