Stop acting like they sprinkle magic dust on you when you become a ref. You know as well as I do that match officials will be arguing over the interpetation of this at the next meeting just like we are now. There haven't been many 8 point tries given in SL, so there's no precident, so there's plenty room for debate.

He did very well indeed. At first I thought he'd dislocated his shoulder aswell.

All I am saying is that this rule is probably one of the least used. Today's incident was unsavoury but the law only applies to tryscorers being fouled when the ball has been grounded.

With this rule, the only interpretation is how long after the ball being grounded can a player be fouled and be awarded an 8 point try. Tomkins was fouled before touching the ball down and therefore is not eligible. It is that simple.

Fair enough, it seems that Ganson was technically correct in not awarding the 8 point try then. Although I still think that is daft, a player being knocked out in the process of scoring the try (as he clearly was as he managed to ground it) should be awarded with an 8 point try.

It doesn't need to be after the ball is down. It's made for situations like this where the player is definitely going to score so the opposition player hits him with a cheap shot. FWIW I think the Myler one where Joel went in with the knees should have been an 8 point try too

I agree, it is a little silly. I'd prefer it if the rule was opened up a little to include incidents like today's.

Well with respect you're wrong, the ball does need to be down.

Seeing as you seem to be an all-seeing sage and refereeing oracle, do you know why Jeff Lima got sin-binned today?

Completely agree, but then we'd have less to argue and moan about if the rules made sense!

Correct.


He was 'OVER' the line and was looking to plant the ball when hit by Raynor.

We have free kicks now?

The TV replay was inconclusive.

Actually, a free kick is the technical name for the second phase of a penalty kick to touch

I'm an ex-ref, but thanks for your cv

Say someone was sliding over the line with the ball grounded and was elbowed/kneed by a covering defender.

Prime example of an 8 point try.

OK

why not just see who can spit further, or burp the alphabet?

Ok........

The only example I have to hand of an 8-point try was Leigh vs Catalans in the previous round of the Challenge Cup.

[url=http://blip.tv/fred-parkinson/leigh-centurions-v-catalan-dragons-5132480Go to about the 39th minute to see[/url

Whilst you can't really see what happened, it looks like a Leigh player dives at JPB's legs to try and stop him scoring, he puts the ball down and falls over the Leigh player.

Prime example of why, if Kirkstaller is correct about the application of the rules, the rules are daft. That doesn't seem to deserve the extra kick at goal. Today's incident certainly did.

Some of us may remember an incident at Farewell Sunday, the last match at Central Park where Danny Moore tackled (I think) Kevin Iro as he was scoring. When I watched the Sky footage afterwards, they clearly discuss the possibility of an 8-point try for it, but conclude there was no penalty to give after consulting the video referee.

If it had actually come down to being the difference between winning and drawing (or losing), then this debate would rumble on for years. I expect instead the rule will be "tweaked" for clarity, and in future a similar incident would DEFINITELY receive the extra kick for goal.

Fair enough, still seems strange that a team can have a bloke sent off yet no penalty awarded to the opposing team.

I see where you're coming from, but like I said earlier, if a player gobbed off at a referee during a conversion and was sent off, would you expect a penalty for that?

He does not know the rules. I've seen other examples of refs not knowing the rules this season.

But with all due respect, how is a player gobbing off at the referee when play is halted comparable to foul play whilst the ball is in play (when a player is scoring a try)? A fist to the head is surely an offence that warrants a penalty to be awarded, had it occured on the twenty metre line a penalty would have been given? Seems a little strange.

Had Tomkins not scored then a penalty or penalty try would have been awarded. I know it sounds tough getting nothing for it but that's what the rules say. Ganson doesn't have the power to tag on another penalty - strange as it sounds, he awarded Wigan the advantage by awarding the try.

Like I said, the 8 point try rule should IMO be revised to cover incidents like todays.

The referee can dismiss any player at his discretion without awarding a penalty to the opposing team.

My team got a pen after the try at Wembley in 1980 !!!!!

Was only a 7 point try that one !!!