Case Number:

ON/366/19

Bobby Goulding #7, Thatto Heath

Competition:

Challenge Cup

Match:

Thatto Heath v Rochdale Mayfield

Match Date:

2019-03-10

Incident:

Punching in the 29th minute (Whalley)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule 15.1 (a)
Detail – Punching – One on One
Grade B

Fine:

N/A

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenging grading

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 21st March you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 66th minute of the above Match. You were dismissed following the incident In the Panel’s opinion you became involved in a confrontation and struck your opponent and when he fell to the floor, you struck your opponent in the head area while he was off guard and kicked him in the head area. The Panel believed that your actions were serious, unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent serious injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade F offence (Striking – Other Striking Offences). The normal suspension range for such offence is from 8 plus match suspension.

Mr Goulding was temporary dismissed following both the Referee and Touch Judge confirming they had witnessed two players throwing punches.

Having reviewed the footage the MRP were satisfied the player had exchanged numerous punches with an opposing player. The recommended grade for such an offence is Grade B.

The charge was graded B due to:

- The MRP saw no reason to deviate from the recommended grading
- The MRP noted the player reacted to an opposing player who seemingly shouted something towards him following a try being scored by touching the opponent on the head
- Following this the player exchanged numerous punches with this opponent
- It was noted there was seemingly no injury caused
- The MRP did not feel this was a case of the player lashing out or acting in self-defence. The MRP did not feel that this was a case of minor punching due to the number and force of punches thrown

In reference to the comparison clip the CM felt the differences included the fact that this was not part of a singular incident and that the number of punches thrown was also not as high. He felt that this charge was not a “minor” incident and therefore could not be Graded at Grade A.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

The player joined the hearing over the phone and was joined by his Head Coach Richard Owen.

Mr Owen informed the Tribunal that the player reacted following a comment made by an opposing player. He explained that the club felt the grading was too high and that a Grade A charge would be more appropriate. They then discussed a comparison clip that they’d submitted (Adamson – Swinton v Leigh, 2019) which was a Grade A offence.

They felt that a Grade B charge was very harsh and believed that due to the number of players becoming involved this increased the length of time the incident went on for. They also added that players at the community game are not used to this level of scrutiny and that ordinarily in the league an incident like this (which was dealt with via a sin-bin) would not attract a suspension.

They concluded that they had worked hard on pulling together a defence against this charge and informed the Tribunal that the player had a clean disciplinary record.

The player then added that he reacted following the opponent screaming in his face following the scoring of a try and felt that he was not the aggressor in this situation.

Decision:

Penalty Challenge successful

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have carefully studied both footage of this incident and also the comparison clip submitted by the club.

They thank both sides for their contributions but are in agreement that the player was not the instigator of the incident and was reacting due to the provocation he had suffered. They also take into account the players exemplary disciplinary record.

They therefore feel that a downgrade to a grading of Grade A is more appropriate. This downgrade means that the player will not receive a suspension.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Suspension:

N/A