Case Number:

ON/614/19

Benn Hardcastle #7, Keighley

Competition:

League 1

Match:

Keighley v Doncaster

Match Date:

2019-04-19

Incident:

Contact with the head in the 66rd minute (Harris)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1(b)
Detail – when tackling or attempting to tackle makes contact with the head or neck of opponent – reckless – tried to tackle but reckless about outcome
Grade – C

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

2 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 25th April 2019, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(b) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 66th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion while attempting to tackle you made contact with the neck and head of your opponent (Harris). The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and caused your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade C offence (High Tackle –Reckless – tried to tackle but reckless about outcome). The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 2 – 3 match suspension.

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

Player in attendance and accompanied by Head Coach Glen Lingard and Director Mike Smith.

Player pleads guilty to making a tackle where there is contact with the neck of the opponent but challenges the level of the grading at Grade C.

After discussions with the MRP the Coach looked at the following three points; speed out of the line, were the players feet off the ground & was there contact with the head.

The player is coached to go and test the skill of an opponent. He didn’t jump into contact and this was his normal running gait and his feet were not off the ground. The contact was initially on the shoulder and then went up onto the neck and not the head, whilst his contact arm was reaching down. The opponent states the first contact was on the shoulder and then the neck. The player had an open palm and not a clenched fist.

The Tribunal were then shown a comparison clip (Chisholm, Workington v Bradford) which involved a similar tackle. It is argued that in this instance the player comes out of the line at pace before jumping into contact with his feet clearly off the ground. Contact is made with the neck/head area of the opponent.

The club argues this is a very similar to the offence in question and yet was only graded at Grade B. The challenge to this charge is that it should be downgraded to Grade B.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal are satisfied that the player was only seeking to apply pressure to the opponent and with no intent to cause an injury to the opponent.

The player clearly approached at significant speed with his arm raised to apply pressure rather than to make deliberate contact with the head of the opponent. There was no evasive action by either player.

The running was in a straight line but prior to the point of impact there was a slight jumping motion by the player where both his feet were off the ground and no reduction in speed.

At this point the player was not in control and was not looking at the opponent. It is accepted that the initial contact was with the top of the shoulder but then there was clear contact with the head leading to some form of concussion.

In deciding the appropriate grading the Tribunal have carefully viewed the comparison clip. The Tribunal are not satisfied this was a comparable incident. The players did not approach at same speed and the tackling player tried to affect a tackle as the opponent tried to evade the tackle. This was more of a grabbing motion and appropriately graded at Grade B.

This was an approach at considerable speed with an obvious risk of contact with the opponents’ head. This was a reckless challenge and correctly graded at Grade C.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The charge was graded at Grace C for the following reasons:

• Player runs in at speed and jumps off the ground prior to contact
• Players speed of approach creates forceful contact
• Player moves his arm in an upward trajectory towards the head and the neck area
• Opponent reacts to forceful contact-receives treatment and leaves the field
• Reckless action due to speed of approach and arm reaching up into contact

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Challenges level of grading at Grade C and shows comparable clip where only graded at Grade B.

Accepts guilt to reckless contact with opponents’ neck area and has an impeccable disciplinary history.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have carefully considered the virtue of the challenge and the grading in this case.

The Tribunal accept that the MRP provided the reasons for handing out a Grade C charge, this included the speed of the tackler, the jumping off the ground and not having control, plus the eventual point of contact.

The challenge loses out in that in the Tribunals opinion there was contact at speed, the players feet were off the ground and contact was made with the head.

The Tribunal do not take these decisions likely but feel that in this instance the challenge was frivolous and as such impose an extra 1 match to the original suspension. The club also forfeit the £250 challenge bond.

Suspension:

3 matches