Two games at Ashton Gate this weekend both with poor refereeing. City denied a clear penalty in the first minute by a ref who did not think it was dangerous play by a Scunny defender that forced Wilbraham to avoid it and fall. Coincidentally in yesterdays Observer in the "You are the Ref" by ex league ref Keith Hackett, this scenario was one of the items. In the Bristol game, some seven minutes were wasted in the second half when Bristol were penalised several times for "wheeling a scrum". Yet the inept referee stood on the side where the Worcester scrum half was putting the ball in failed to see the Worcester flanker on the other side, pushing sideways. It was obvious to everyone on that side of the pitch what was happening. But not the referee. Sport is all about mistakes made by players and officials. But two crucial incidents missed by the two referees? Inept is an understatement. Fortunately for the home teams, the results were not altered but on another day there could have been different outcomes.
I said to the guy next to me that if it was not a penalty then he should book him - I thought it was a pen and I think hew may have given it if it was 15 minutes later. As for the rugby, I would have awarded a penalty try to Worcester - but then it's all very subjective
I agree on the penalty try situation. Everyone around me was surprised he did not award one. But as soon as he went around the other side of the scrum, after about five attempts at a scrum, he saw what we could all see that the flanker was pushing sideways.
The ref was fine on Saturday apart from not letting the game flow a few times I thought he was genuinely ok Regarding the penalties.. I think Wilbraham was outside the box and Little took a swan dive and should of been booked
It is not as bad as away at Walsall last year. There should have been 2 players sent off, including one on 2 occasions! The linesman was useless. The referee was one sided giving Walsall the freedom to kick the **** out of us, while we were penalised for breathing on Walsall. It was the most inept refereeing I have ever seen.
Wilberhams pen appeal was outside the box, and Littles he made a bit of an overreaction. If he was clever he could of clipped the defenders heal to create himself to fall.
I bet if the incident was outside of the box, say on the half way line, that ref would have blown up for it everytime- If it is a foul, the sheer fact that its in the penalty area shouldn't make any difference regarding the offence- Its just the same as refs who wont book anyone early on and the one that really gets me is the 2nd yellow card-This one seems to have to carry a greater offence than it would for a first offence- Surely, if its a yellow card it gets one and in that case gets sent off- You can see why refs get accused of inconsistency
