Field more fit for water polo

SPLISH, SPLASH: Divvied up into two 12-man teams, the Shepherds (dark strip) v the Beekeepers, the Ngamatapouri rugby side had no hesitation playing on a waterlogged track.PHOTOS/TINA CHAMBERS 210415WCTCNGAMATAPOURI2

Ngamatapouri has been gifted five valuable championship points after Tech Old Boys refused to play on a sodden Waitotara Valley track in the Wanganui Senior rugby competition on Saturday.

The Wanganui Rugby Union's operations committee awarded all five available championship points to the home side after Tech failed to follow protocol when declining to play.

WFU club development officer Paul Kenny said Tech had decided not to play on the boggy Ngamatapouri home field even before waiting for referee Mark Wilson to turn up, and that, combined with other necessary steps, failed to meet protocol.

"It was basically a one-man band that decided on the day of the scheduled match and that is not how it is supposed to happen.

"Therefore the operations committee voted to award the points to Ngamatapouri. That scheduled match now no longer needs to be replayed," Kenny said yesterday.

Kenny tempered the decision by saying Ngamatapouri had been warned to be more vigilant of conditions leading up to future senior division games.

Once Tech had left the field, Ngamatapouri divided its team into two 12-a-side teams, naming one the Shepherds and the other the Beekeepers, to play a full length friendly. Wilson refereed the friendly match.

"In his referee's report to the union, Mark Wilson said he had officiated games in worse conditions than those at Ngamatapouri. Sadly, Grass Roots Rugby were there to televise the scheduled clash. They did, however, stay on and film the friendly which I understand will air on Thursday night," Kenny said.

Tech president Rani Pomana said player/coach Steelie Koro had walked the field after arriving and decided not to play on a waterlogged and muddy pitch.

"I had no option to back his decision on the day. Steelie, a former Wanganui rep, has played a lot of rugby in his time at a much higher level and I trusted his judgment. However, in hindsight we failed to meet protocol and I have officially apologised to the WRU," Pomana said yesterday.

"We should have observed protocol and we have been penalised accordingly by losing the opportunity of five championship points. We will have to take it on the chin and move on," he said.

Meanwhile, Ngamatapouri manager Gerald Pearce conceded heavy rain had fallen during the week leading up to Saturday's match, but praised his coach Roger Pearce's decision to arrange a friendly following Tech's walk off.

"Yes we had about 10 inches (25cm) of rainfall during the week and then from about 10pm the night before until 6am on the morning of the match it poured down again. However, I wouldn't say it was unplayable. In fact, the friendly did prove that. We had offered to pump water off the field and we had plenty of time, but Tech said it was still going to be too muddy.

"All credit to Roger for making his decision. It allowed spectators and players to enjoy a good game of rugby even if it was a friendly," Pearce said.

Ngamatapouri had been sitting mid-table in the senior grade having already played four and won three. The extra five championship points now has Ngamatapouri tied in fifth spot with Celtic in 19 points, just five behind leaders Ruapehu on 24.

Ngamatapouri's next match is against Buffalo's at the Wanganui Racecourse this Saturday.