That was put in so if any Quins player had thrown a punch or a handbag they would have had a reason to ban one or more of them

Hardly lashed out, comically stroppy push. Thanks for the points! The surprise was that Howell let it go.

The irony is that had McGoldrick tackled Melling legitimately then held him down, he'd have been sin-binned.

Well, maybe...

This is what annoys me, and doubtless most others. Why can't referees take decisive action at the time something like this occurs? It makes no difference to me whether or not McGoldrick gets bans for the next game or two. What use is that to us? Why did this get put on report? Everyone could clearly see what happened at the time, it was two players with nobody else getting in the way and causing confusion, and one of them flattened the other with a foul! Melling is hardly a dwarf and McGoldrick can't be much if any taller. There was no excuse at all for hitting him so high, it was a shabby foul. A penalty try and red card at the time for denying a certain try with a dangerous head shot would have been appropriate; a ban now after he was allowed to complete our game without his team conceding any points as a result of his offence would be useless to us.

From where I was sat it looked like Howell wound him up then once he got the penalty just turned away with a smile on his face.....

Replies received!!!!!

"Nigel

Thank you for your email.

The MRP on reviewing the incident and considered the tackle high, that it warranted a penalty but not referral to the Tribunal as misconduct.

I will forward your email to Stuart Cummings for confirmation re the 2nd try."

"Nigel,

The touch judge told the referee that the ball had been touched down before it went on to the line. The referee took this view and awarded the try.

Regards,"

To which my reply was that that perhaps the TJ needed to review his decision!!!

Still fair play that the replied even if we disagree with the bland answers.

Update and reply to that "Well it doesn’t look brilliant on the DVD but he is in a good position and I can’t fault him for that."

Quite right too! The disciplinary committee are completely consistent on this. Why only last week they suspended four Gateshead players for fighting (while only finding one player from their Heartlands opponents to ban for the same melee). I think we should all congratulate them on their campaign to clamp down on expansion team thuggery.

:2746xw8c
Well done for complaining to the RFL. All I ever do is whinge on here.