Blast from the Past #3

Seen as the Pennine League fixture people have given us the lovely tie of West Leeds away on the opening day of the season, we're taking a stroll down memory lane back to the first ever meeting between the sides in 2008. Prepare for some grade-A journalism by yours truly, you just don't see enough people referred to as "the stupid git" in rugby league reports these days...

__________________________________________________________________________

Match Date: 11/10/08
Competition: Pennine League Division 3

Ref goes red card crazy
By Jonathon Ward | Saturday 11th October 2008

Sedge had to deal with the worst referee we've had in a long long time for a full 75 minutes in a game that ended with FOUR red cards. The first half was end to end all the way; Sedge got caught out by two short passes and then slack defence on their winger scooting for their tries, but a good team passing move put Ali in and then a delicate chip from Flynny was well caught by Jamie K before half time.

Two tries in two minutes by the hosts widened the gap but a snapper on the line saw Luke crash over through a head high tackle to bring it back to ten points.

From the first minute the referee was very trigger happy with his whistle, constantly giving penalties for gobbing off, making the match stop-start all the way through, and some of his decisions were unbelievable. He sin binned Spatey but not once were one of their players yellow carded. Duane was smashed in the face early on and never returned to the pitch, but the ref saw nothing wrong. Constant head high tackles and forward passes went unnoticed and later Ste was mercilessly tripped trying to chase his own grubber, something the ref saw and gave a penalty for, but didn't punish the proffessional foul with a card. However, his crowning glory came from the brawl.

It had been stirring all game and eventually it boiled over and fists went frantically flying. Danny got stuck in with some right hits but best was Walshy who went mental and destroyed the stupid git who started on him. When things cooled Danny and the guy who started the fight saw red, fair enough, but then he sent off Drakey and Luke for reasons only he knows.

Despite being 10 on 12 Ali dived over for a try in the corner, but again the man in the super league reffing outfit had something to say and disallowed it.

The game was over when Leeds scored a full length interception try, but Ali did get his second after Grezza's pass had been knocked on and he collected the free ball. The hosts reached 40 in the end, yet there was still time for the star of the show to have input when he blew up with five minutes left on the clock. Full time Odsal Sedbergh 24 The Referee 40.

FB-Platt W-Guiry C-Flynn C-Middleton W-A.James SO-Drake SH-Suddards PR-Walsh HK-Harrison PR-S.Chapman SR-Brown SR-S.Spate LF-Sellers SUB-Caston SUB-Cullen SUB-Graham SUB-Jamie K

Tries: A.James(2), Jamie K, Sellers
Goals: Middleton, Flynn(3)

HT: 18-12