Case Number:

ON/253/19

Reece Dean #21, Hunslet

Competition:

League 1

Match:

Hunslet v West Wales

Match Date:

2019-03-03

Incident:

Punching in the 56th minute (Dalton Walker)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1(a)
Detail – Strikes – Punching – sustained, violent or repeated
Grade – C

Fine:

N/A

Sanctions:

2 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenging the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 7th 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 56th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you threw punches towards an opponent (Dalton Walker) making contact with the head, as reported by the Match Official. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade C offence (Punching – sustained, repeated or violent) 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 alongside Head Coach Gary Thornton.

Player was hit off the ball by an opponent as play continued and move up-field. The opponent threw two punches at the player, one of which burst his nose.

The player concedes that both players came together, and blows were exchanged. The player is trained in self-defence techniques and against a larger opponent he admits to throwing some punches as he tried to defend himself. These were downward self-defence style punches of which some made contact with the opponent’s upper body. The player also states he had his fists clenched when deflecting blows from the opponent and does not believe that any of his punches struck the opponents head.

The player raised the evidence of the Touch Judge who reported seeing several punches being thrown by both players with some making contact with the head area. The footage of the incident does not show this or the evidence of multiple punches that are stated in the dismissal report from the official. Play had moved up-field and maybe the Touch Judge had a peripheral view of the incident.

Decision:

The Tribunal have viewed the footage and listened to the submissions over the phone by the Touch Judge. In addition, the Tribunal have listened to the submissions made by the player and his coach.

The footage is of no use in this instance as it does not show the actual incident. When questioned about her report the Touch Judge recalled that at least one punch was thrown by the player that connected with the head. This Tribunal feel that this differs from the multiple punches described in the report and taking this and the players submissions on the incident feel that the challenge to the grading is successful.

This Tribunal feel that a grading at Grade A is more appropriate for what they feel was a one-on-one incident.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Charge graded at Grade C due to the following:
- Multiple punches thrown to head of opponent
- Incident not part of play
- No place for violence of thuggery with the game
- Incidents like this can jeopardise safety of opponent and have potential to cause serios injury

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Player has no previous disciplinary history. He accepts he was involved in the melee and threw defensive blows at the opponent.

Aggravating Factors:

N/A

Suspension:

N/A