Proper officiating

Wigwam wrote: Good luck to all the referees and their helpers today !!!

I could not agree more but lets extend thst good luck to the players aswell.

Yesterday, our ref and his assistants generally performed well but 'sir' made a couple of basic errors at the scrum i.e. your put in, ball is hooked, scrum solid with no one on top, ball at the No.8's feet about to be passed out and then the front rows collapse. Play on? We see this week in week out in the top 2 tiers. No problem, lets get on with it. The supporters need 'ball in play' time.
No, at tier 3 this was a full penalty against the team about to play the ball? Explanation from Ass Ref - we never allow the ball to leave a collapsed scrum. Really? I must be watching another game.
At the risk of upsetting Wigwam, I would say that here again we have an example of the laws being applied one way for the upper echelons and another way for us.

Edited by Sid James - 08 Dec 2019 at 09:00

Loving this conversation!  Some helpful and insightful comments.  Some of course, and they are clear, have little or no awareness of the investment that officials at this level and above put into their own ame and performance reviews.

I thought the referee had a good game yeterday. Some of the chaps from Tynedale didn't understand why a penalty was given each time their scrum was going backwards a few metres. I actually agree with them. Why is it a penalty when one side gets the upperhand over the opposition in a pushing contest?

Edited by Big Eddie - 08 Dec 2019 at 15:59

Sid James wrote: "I remain convinced the better officials will always make time to interact with club coaches and even occasionally some spectators (bigEd, Sid et al....)" Well said Vicar. I admit that I am not 'old school' and I do not immediately place the referee on a pedestal as soon as he arrives at the Club. I prefer to give the ref the opportunity to earn his respect, which most do. I always did enjoy our 'chats'.

Sid James wrote: Wigwam wrote: Good luck to all the referees and their helpers today !!! I could not agree more but lets extend thst good luck to the players aswell. Yesterday, our ref and his assistants generally performed well but 'sir' made a couple of basic errors at the scrum i.e. your put in, ball is hooked, scrum solid with no one on top, ball at the No.8's feet about to be passed out and then the front rows collapse. Play on? We see this week in week out in the top 2 tiers. No problem, lets get on with it. The supporters need 'ball in play' time. No, at tier 3 this was a full penalty against the team about to play the ball? Explanation from Ass Ref - we never allow the ball to leave a collapsed scrum. Really? I must be watching another game. At the risk of upsetting Wigwam, I would say that here again we have an example of the laws being applied one way for the upper echelons and another way for us.

.... When the front row collapse the first thought in a refs mind is “Player safety” 

Puli may be able to confirm whether the reason for retreating scrums resulting in a penalty is a safety issue?

Usually penalised for players in the pushed back side standing up.

Big Eddie wrote: Puli may be able to confirm whether the reason for retreating scrums resulting in a penalty is a safety issue?

Puli. wrote: Big Eddie wrote: Puli may be able to confirm whether the reason for retreating scrums resulting in a penalty is a safety issue? I would say that it varies, a lot depends on how the scrum is retreating, as the moment a player retreating goes to the ground then it becomes a “danger” situation with the possibility of injury to players collapsing on and over each other, so yes a penalty may be justified. If however the retreating scrum is still solid with no one standing up then to me there is no need for a penalty at that moment, but just a signal for playing advantage from the ref. Elijah Cadman where are you ?