Don't expect to see one again in my lifetime but I have seen three now.

Have to admit I was mystyfied about Fridays till a young lad behind me in the North stand explained the penalty decision.

The reason you were mystified frank is because he didn't do anything dangerous , a couple of years ago there were certain players that were deliberately using a ' sliding tackle ' type action to try to prevent opposition players scoring try,s , that was outlawed , because it was dangerous

Mr Childs applied the letter of the law to what Stuart did , why ? , simple because that is what he does , he applies the letter of the law , but only sometimes , and that is the problem , if you are going to use that method of refereeing , you must do it all the time and you need all the refs to work that way , is that what we want our referees to do ?

Not if people can read properly no Alan



And to be fair to Mr Childs if you watch the video carefully he does seem to indicate to Stu that he was going to go award a penalty against him after the conversion attempt, we shall just have to see if any other similiar incidents arise.

Well he`s set a precedent for himself there and seeing has he`s Stupid Cummings darling boy ,we`ll get to see if he continues in that vein. Ain`t coverage of SL games great........

If Childs continues to penalise what is potentially dangerous play, then fair enough. If that's just 'the one for his career' then he's as useless as everyone thinks he is!

Seen Tomkins do something similar on a couple of occasions this season for the pies - no punishment given

Baile invited Donlan to do what he did by carrying on towards the posts with the ball held just above the floor ready to put down at the last minute. He was taking the mick and if Donlan had stopped him from scoring it would have served him right. Maybe next time he'll just put the damn ball down and won't have to take another kick.

You have to judge every case on its own merits.
I invite you to read Mr Goulds thoughts on the 'extra 2' from a couple of years back as to why it can only be given in certain circumstances so there's no point watching for it all season and moaning. Harsh? Yes, but the most blatant example of an 8 point try you will ever see.

And no Freddy, I haven't the foggiest, but have come to appreciate that this place is akin to Kim Jong il's reign of North Korea. The fact of the matter is I am right, if I wasn't there wouldnt be a thread moaning about the most blatant right decision he got all night and no matter how much you dislike it, it doesn't change the fact. The Championship lot are a bit insular; maybe if you opened your eyes to different brands of rugby worldwide the thought of an extra 2 points in the act of scoring wouldnt be something a few posters remember from one example in the 80's

I have not seen an 8 point try given for many years and certainly don't recall any being given in sky games, despite some late challenges that would merit the 8-pointer

What I don't get is why Child gave it, even if it was marginal? Surely you would think that the underdog might get the rub in challenge cup games to try and restore faith in it, yet our refs seem to do the opposite

And goin back to the 8 pointer I think it is time is was done away with and replaced with either an on-report decision, a sin-binning or a sending off. It is too controversial and not helped by the fact the refs almots never use it even when they could/should (i.e. inconsistent)

For what it is worth I thought Stu was very late and even said to Nozzy that he could be sent off for that so I can't complain about this particular incident.

I am still not sure that Childs will award another this year though!

After watching the game multiple times....Stu Donlons attempt should at least warrant a 6 mth ban or even sine die.It was atrocious and I said so at the time to numerous people, including some slow learning folk from Wire who live under bridges.

I firmly believe that he should have faced a firing squad there and then. Or at the very least he should have been stoned to death with bits of the north stand terracing.

I reckon at half time we should all run on the pitch, grab him,string him up and then hang ,draw and quarter him, That'll teach him.

I'd give up the fortune telling if I were you....saw one today on the Bulls v Wigan game!

No there wasn't because Ganson didn't award the penalty (it should have been one though).

Jesus h. Christ.. no it shouldnt. The rules are there to read. I think you need to stop taking what Ray French says as gospel

The rules now state (after being amended a couple of years ago) that an 8 point try can be awarded where a foul is commited on the try scorer immediately before, during and immediately after the act of scoring. As Tomkins was clobbered by Raynor as he was diving for the tryline an 8 point try could, and in MY opinion should have been awarded.

Ah, but the 'unwritten' rules probably say that there should only be one '8-pointer' every five seasons!

I can see what people are saying but Tomkins wasnt even over the line (he could have been but on memory, i didnt watch it 8 times like everyone else). The actual act of 'scoring the try' hadn't happened. It was a penalty definately, and advantage played. If he would have dropped the ball it would have been a penalty try, which, isnt an 8 point try

He was over the line ,albeit in mid air but was clobbered all the same while in the act of scoring so could have/should have in my opinion been awarded the 8 pointer ,its a pity Childs wasn't the ref ,would have been interesting to see what he would have given

Correct.

Then surely the same would apply in Donlans case , Stuart made an attempt to dislodge the ball before it was placed on the ground ?

Ive only seen the Donlan one once live but I thought the ball had been touched down as he flew in.
As a 7 year old we was always told the classic example of scoring and someone jumping on top of you with knees.

to try and compare a cynical challenge to the head and an attempt to dislodge a ball is wrong