First game of the year
Yesterday I headed out to Georgetown to referee North Halton II vs Ajax II. This was my first game of the year and my first since the adoption of the ELVs into Law. (I never got to ref a game under the Global ELVs). It was a new ground for me too as I never played in Georgetown.
It was a pretty good game. The first 30 minutes were excellent. Both sides were producing quick ball at the breakdown and I think I only called one penalty in that first 30. By this time I think North Halton were up by three tries. It started to get a bit silly at that point. Ajax got there first sustained period of attacking pressure and North Halton responded by killing the ball repeatedly and then pretty blatantly stopping Ajax taking a quick penalty. At that point I carded the guy, more for the repeated offences by the team than for anything the individual did. Finally Ajax got in for a score and that was pretty much it for the half.
The second half was a bit chippier with a couple of late tackles and other minor bits of niggle but nothing serious. It also got a lot yappier but, again, nothing much to worry about. All in all it was a pretty decent game with North Halton running out deserved winners. I think I did OK. The players were pretty complimentary afterwards and I can only think of a couple of cases where I blew a call. There were two tries (one each way) that were questionable and where one would have liked to be able to refer to a TV replay official but I, of course, didn't have that luxury so I called them as I saw them.
I was tired afterwards and my legs are a bit sore this morning but I think my fitness was quite adequate which is reassuring. I have been working pretty hard at it!
It was a pretty good game. The first 30 minutes were excellent. Both sides were producing quick ball at the breakdown and I think I only called one penalty in that first 30. By this time I think North Halton were up by three tries. It started to get a bit silly at that point. Ajax got there first sustained period of attacking pressure and North Halton responded by killing the ball repeatedly and then pretty blatantly stopping Ajax taking a quick penalty. At that point I carded the guy, more for the repeated offences by the team than for anything the individual did. Finally Ajax got in for a score and that was pretty much it for the half.
The second half was a bit chippier with a couple of late tackles and other minor bits of niggle but nothing serious. It also got a lot yappier but, again, nothing much to worry about. All in all it was a pretty decent game with North Halton running out deserved winners. I think I did OK. The players were pretty complimentary afterwards and I can only think of a couple of cases where I blew a call. There were two tries (one each way) that were questionable and where one would have liked to be able to refer to a TV replay official but I, of course, didn't have that luxury so I called them as I saw them.
I was tired afterwards and my legs are a bit sore this morning but I think my fitness was quite adequate which is reassuring. I have been working pretty hard at it!