It seemed to me that Cunningham tapped the ball and then passed to Long. If that's the case, Long's kick became just a downfield kick and should've been Leeds scrum

Surely the optional kick downfield to gain a scrum only applies if the person taking the restart kicks for territory?

Nitpicking as we won the game but curious if anyone else thought Cunningham tapped it first

I said the same...KC tapped the ball and passed it to Long who also appeared to PUNT the ball into touch..... not a drop kick ???????

doesn't need to be a drop kick for tap 20, can be a straight kick out of the hands. as for cunningham i can only assume that he didn't actually tap it, rather faked a tap and then passed it so the ball was still out of play

Thanks...I wasnt sure on the new rule hence the ???????? and the cruesome twosome werent much help on clearing things up.

Cunningham didn't tap it. Don't know whether the kick needs to be a drop kick or not. Longs was not a drop kick though

Smart thinking from the white Rasta - seeing Scott Donald was out of position from the chase.

It just seems too much of an easy option to kick to touch under no pressure, with a set defensive line with no-one dropping back to cover like on a last play.

I don't particularly like the ruling but the opportunity was well spotted and the kick well executed.

just watched it back now and it looks as if cunningham was just about to tap it but long stopped him and asked for the ball to make the play. nothing in it really just smart thinking from Long

It was, but the point I'm making is that the opportunity is always there. The only skill is to get the ball to bounce in field. At least if they made sure it was a drop kick it would be more difficult to do.

Its a better opportunity than a 40-20.

My initial view was that Cunningham took the re-start before passing to Long.

Did that happen?

Would it matter to the optional kick re-start?

If it doesn't matter, how many pairs of hands can the ball go through before the option is taken away?



You are chancing losing the possession you have just been given for a fresh set of six. From the centre of the twenty metre line the ball has to travel a minimum of 10 metres forward bounce in the field of play and then bounce out.

It can be defended against.

Didnt see it but..if kc got a 20m optional and didnt tap it before passing ball then ball not in play, you cant pass a ball if ball not in play..for optional kick..kicker cannot tap ball then kick downfield for restart..he either kicks downfield without tapping ball andnscrum feed, or he taps ball then ball in play he kicks downfield and oppo scrum.

That's basically how I thought it worked.

Cunningham can't have tapped the ball before giving it to Long then, at the time I thought he had but I guess I'm mistaken.

cunningham defo didnt tap the ball

Still not absolutely convinced although happy to accept that was the referee's call also.

First thing Donald (who had chased the kick) points for someone to drop back and cover the optional re-start. Well done for him for that in that situation after a hard chase to remain game aware.

Cunningham ball in hand (on Bentham's whistle) with his back turned to the official, motions to take the restart (which can be anywhere between foot and knee IIRC) before passing to Long.

Very close call in that case to calling play on, head and feed to Leeds.