Rugby: Consolation game off after two teams disqualified

Wanganui Rugby

For the second year in a row there will be no Tasman Tanning Premier consolation game on Wanganui rugby club finals day, as both teams from last Saturday's controversial semifinal were yesterday disqualified after fielding illegal players.

Confusion had already reigned at the Ratana Paa when the consolation playoff between Harvey Round Motors Ratana and Utiku Old Boys was deadlocked 32-32 at fulltime.

"The referee [Noah Viliamu in the draw] did not play extra time, as required in the WRFU rules, and he awarded the game to Ratana who had finished ahead of Utiku after two qualifying rounds," said club development officer JB Phillips.

Post-match, the WRFU Operations Committee declared Utiku the winners on a 5-4 try count, which triggered a sequence of events where both teams protested and the winner was changed.

Phillips said Ratana complained that Utiku fielded unregistered players from the Feilding club, which Utiku admitted, and their victory was overturned.

"Utiku counter-protested that Ratana had also played a Manawatu club player, from Bulls, and backed it up with video evidence. The Operations Committee, under WRFU rules, disqualified both teams and awarded the consolation title to Marton.

"Wanganui rugby officials will be holding meetings with both Ratana and Utiku OB because the clubs flouted the rules by playing players from outside unions in a WRFU fixture."

Speirs Food Marton beat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 24-19 in the other semifinal, meaning they will officially finish fifth in the 2014 competition, as they did the year before when the entire consolation playoffs series was scrapped due to all squads withdrawing because of a lack of players.

Marton also won the consolation title in similar circumstances in 2011 when Border fielded an unregistered player.

Saturday's draw is now modified with the senior consolation final between Counties and Downs Group Marton moved from the Racecourse to Spriggens Park, starting at 11.30am instead of 1pm. The Hunterville v Ruapehu senior championship final is at 1pm, followed by the premier final at 2.35pm.