Bulls Prop Nick Scruton was tonight fined £300 after being found guilty of a reckless high tackle on Castleford's Gareth O’Brien.
Scruton, was accompanied by Head Coach Francis Cummins and Football Manager Stuart Duffy and the trio argued that the tackle was legal and to the shoulder of his opponent.
The Disciplinary panel listened to the argument and felt that tackle was not serious enough to warrant a Grade B charge and downgraded the offence to Grade A. They then imposed a fine of £300 but no suspension, pointing out that players making tackles had a duty of care to their opponent but acknowledging that the initial contact had been with the shoulder.
Scruton is therefore free to play against St Helens on Saturday.
Fair decision. The panel have found Scruton guilty of a high tackle, which it was as it made contact with the head. However, they believe the initial impact was on the shoulder and his record is good, so a fine is sufficient punishment.
Rubbish their was contact with the head, accidental or knot he made contact with the head, like they said with Rangi any contact to the head is an offense.
Not only did Scruton make contact to the head, he was late, it seems for some clubs high shots are legal, in this bent game we call Rugby League, their is no wonder the sport is on it's knees when we have a two tear system for foul play.
Bring on the next high shoulder charge, and if some one is badly hurt, blame the disciplinary panel for their lack of consistency.
It was late but never a sending off offence, or deserving of a ban. If you think that every tackle where there is contact with the head is deserving of a ban then you will end up with 5 a side. Your bitterness & paranoia does you no good at all. I didn't see the Chase incident so cannot comment on that. I did see his tackle at Fev last season, which has no comparison.
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