Referee: N Bennett
Touch Judges: D Butler Brad Darlinson
Reserve Referee: N HORTON
M Com: Alan Smith
Referee: Nick Bennett (Dewsbury and Batley)
Previous Oxford game as referee:
23/07/2016 - Coventry 48 Oxford 6 (League 1 Shield - penalties 10-6 in favour)
Was also touch judge at three of our games in 2015, and refereed the 2016 Varsity Match. In that 70-0 win for Oxford, he resisted the temptation to give sympathy penalties to Cambridge in the latter stages, as happened in previous years. This was much appreciated by me and probably not even noticed by anyone else. He’s from the Dewsbury and Batley referees society but I believe is based in Sheffield. I reckon this is him from last season (the one with the flag, obviously):
Together with Brad Darlison and Alan Smith was on duty for South Wales v Newcastle last season, so they’ll know how to get to the ground. Or maybe not…
Touch Judge: David Butler
Has been touch judge for a couple of games, most recently the win over Coventry at Iffley Road in June 2015. Was one of the first group of match officials appointed by the RLEF,and got to referee Serbia v Italy in Belgrade. I think he’s on the right in the front row:
Touch Judge: Brad Darlison (Castleford and Featherstone)
The RFL spell his surname Darlinson, but I’ve gone with what his social media accounts say. First Oxford game. Played for the all-conquering Castleford Academy schools teams.
Reserve Referee: Neil Horton
First Oxford game. I’ve been trying to work out if he is the same person as the former Heworth coach, but I suspect he might be a lot younger.
Match Commissioner: Alan Smith (Llanfynydd)
This is the third consecutive South Wales away game where he is match commissioner. I like this photo so we’re having it again - with the World Cup at Neath, just before watching Wales get beat again:
