2006/7 Season
Experience at end of Season
3 x U13/U14
17 x U15/U16
11 x U17/U18/U19
4 x Ladies
6 Men
6 x 7s/10s
June 2007
Sevens
East Grinstead:
Girls/Ladies Sevens were a bit disorganised in the morning and two of us were
kept on the U14 pitches despite being told we'd be getting some variety. Really good U15
Tens in the afternoon with HH and EG beating the Sussex team. Ref'd EG v Sussex.
Worthing Junior Boys:
As usual, one of my favourite days of the season. Plenty to do. Plenty of good games.
Was given the U18 final Horsham v Hove (after the expected ref announced he was too tired
and I was the first ref the organisers found). This was a tough one and went to extra
time. Hundreds of spectators. Players, coaches and crowds took some managing, especially
the coaches and crowds!
22 April 2007
U17F: Brighton 21 v Blackheath 0
Top team in Sussex against a top 3 side from Kent - I'd been looking forward to this one.
First trip to Brighton this season and first time I'd been on the astro pitch - it's great.
Spongey under foot on a hot, dry day. Only downside is no corner flags.
Game got underway with strong play from both teams in the first half, but defences held out
until the last play of the half when Brighton scored in the corner.
I was getting a bit too much chat (appeals and gentle moans) in the first half, so spoke to
both teams at half time and things improved a lot.
Second half Brighton took more control, but there were several late charges / tackles
from both teams - nothing violent, just late except for a trip which got a YC (despite the
offending player having gone off injured! Last score was a drop goal - my first (as it were).
Scrums weren't great today and I should have penalised for wheeling much earlier. Otherwise
everything fell pretty much into place, unlike my trip to Hants where several things just
didn't happen. Reassuring that I haven't lost it!
15 April 2007 11:00am
U16L: Heathfield v Burgess Hill
15 April 2007 12:30pm
U17F Heathfield v Crowborough
Two big wins for the home teams on a hot day after a week with a cold. Survived!
31 Mar 2007
Hants 2: Romsey 35 v Fawley 5
This was my first exchange and I was surprised it was at this level - one at which I have almost no experience. I was really up for it and enjoyed it greatly - not because I had a great game, but because the whole environment seemed up a notch or three from what I've done before - both teams warming up an hour before KO and first time I've been asked to knock on the changing room doors to get the teams out - small points, but just added to the general feeling that I was moving outside my comfort zone. Probably about 70-80 in the crowd (I like a crowd!).
Good game but one sided scoreline. Both skippers thought I'd done all right overall. I thought I'd done really well at times, but wasn't comfortable at others and came off thinking I can do much better than that with a few more games at this level.
Having had to concentrate so much on my decision making I knew I'd let other things slip and this was confirmed in the assessment (link below). Assessor had lots to say and I agree with all of it, but he especially emphasised the need to "boss the game".
Stuff I thought I'd started doing naturally didn't get done this day. 1 - watching the kicker / chargedown not the ball [I missed the first late one, something I've never done before]. 2 - get square on to ruck & mauls and move away. 3 - checking offsides, etc, etc.
He would have loved the game I did yesterday if he'd been there! High quality U17 game Brighton (Sussex champs) v Blackheath (3rd in Kent?). Not an easy one, but it went v well and I was congratulated for bossing the game! My positioning was good at set pieces and T/R/M. Saw every late tackle. YC for a trip (despite the fact the the offender was injured and off the pitch when the card came out!).
I need to do more men's matches next season to expand my comfort zone and see if I can establish myself at Div 2 level by the end of the year.
Here's
the Assessment
24 March 2007
Div2W: St Francis I 30 v Bognor III 36
25 Feb 2007
U18F: Eastbourne 7 v Heathfield 11
Really enjoyed this one in the deep mud at EB - especially as it stayed dry for us
having poured till half hour before kick off and then immediately after the final whistle.
An important break for me since I wear glasses and was having my second ever assessment!
H had most of the territory in this one, but EB had their chances and it could have gone
either way. Two penalty scores to H in the first half hour before their try, so 0-11
at HT. EB made a great start to the second half and got their try after 10mins.
After this the pitch made it very hard going - despite this there were many
good runs and we didn't get bogged down with piles of bodies or endless mauls - well
done those teams.
High penalty count for me (about 15-16) which felt about right. 3 high tackles early on -
nothing too dangerous, but I had a bit of a team talk which cleaned thing up until well into the
2nd half.
My first YC of the season which I'm not proud of - that it's taken so long, that is!
FH kicked from his own line and the guy who was trying to charge it down pulled out
when he realised he had no chance, but as he was running to one side of the FH the FH
stuck his foot out and caught him. It was low speed, low impact and just caused a stumble
so I had no thoughts of red. I was so pleased with myself for still watching the kicker
after the ball had gone and seeing this one clearly.
Second YC of the season came right on full time for another high tackle - this was
marginally worse than the earlier ones IMO and I wanted to make a statement even though the guy
would only have less than a minute off the pitch - anyway with the scores that close it gave
EB one less opposition player for their final attempt at a score.
All smiles on the pitch at the end ... and the losing coach said I should take it as a
compliment that after a such close match none of the losing team had suggested that their loss
was the ref's fault!
I took the assessor's feedback as generally positive and encouraging, though I thought this
after my first assessment (a match which I and the coaches thought had gone really well)
then I was disappointed with the subsequent report (not saying it was wrong!), so I'll
see what turns up this time and summarise it here later.
OK, here's
the Assessment
18 Feb 2007
U18L: Hove 43 v Crawley 7
Hove had the edge across the park, except in the scum where Crawley had a really good first
half. There was niggle throught this one - including Hove SH elbowing his counterpart
before the first scrum. We got through the match OK with a few chats and loads of penalties -
around 20 (about double my highest previous).
I should have got on top of the sledging better and earlier and I'm still in two minds whether
the showboating and goading just before one of the Hove tries should have had a penalty against.
21 Jan 2007
U16L: Pulborough 0 v Haywards Heath 31
My first visit to P - having heard positive things about the new grounds plus the problems with stones on the main pitch (which is still out of action and has apparently had an expert from Twickenham visit to advise).
I ref’d HH last year as U15’s v Lewes in a HH mud bath and struggled in that game – it had been my first ‘close match between deadly rivals at the top of the table’ type match and it was "a stretch" for me at that time – my 8th game. HH crowd and coaches were very displeased with me that day for missing too much stuff and letting things go, so I definitely arrived at this one today wanting to prove myself.
Just to up the stakes even more, one of the P coaches had played for Worthing V in my first ever game and he recognised me, too! So, people from two of my three worst games ever, all ‘remembering last time’ and I’m sure were thinking “Oh! no, not again”.
Anyway, this was 'the new me'! Feedback from last week was that I had missed too many offsides – first penalty today was within 90secs and for offside!
P played 1st half down the slope with wind mostly behind and had the first chance to score after 10mins, but missed a straightforward penalty. Within a few mins HH ran in a long distance try, but the game was fairly even with no more scores 1st half. HH, who I heard have 13 county players, clearly expected to win this one and pulled away in the 2nd half with 4 more tries and most of the territory.
Scrums weren’t great with the new sequence. I made sure last week’s too far apart didn’t happen, but props were reluctant to touch, then when they did they performed the ‘snake bite’. Needed a few chats and a FK.
P felt they didn’t get the rub of the green overall and they probably did get the odd whistle just before the ball came out their way and the slight forward pass picked up where on another day these could have gone the other way. Luck of the draw, though, and nothing remotely match-changing or even score-changing.
Positive feedback for me after, so mission accomplished and my credibility restored – a major relief.
14 Jan 2007
U18L: East Grinstead 41 v Uckfield 12
My first match for 4 weeks having decided to extend the Xmas break to see if my Achilles problem would clear up (answer = marginally!).
I’d refereed this fixture last year – just weeks after they’d played a friendly which turned very nasty. Last year we had a really good, fairly even, match with all the energy being used positively - whew! This year EG were much better all round and despite the reminder given to me beforehand about the “history” we all got through in one piece!
First half the only problems I had were two props who only wanted to touch each other’s elbows so were too far away – probably 4 re-sets. My first time with the new sequence, so having had that little problem I will make sure their closer to start with next time to prevent this. Other problem was a flanker who was bound more onto his prop than 2nd row (Qs in another thread) and sticking a leg out (2 pens including one on his 5m line – both having won their own ball).
Positioning was pretty good today – esp getting away from R&Ms after going in close to see what was going on. Didn’t make full use of positioning in checking backs often enough for offsides – consistent feedback after that I’d missed too much.
Feedback on one incident was mixed. U player had slid into a try scorer late. I saw it, blew it, spoke to him and intended to restart with a penalty but forgot – ooops! Balance of opinion was that it should have been yellow – I didn’t think so because the whole thing looked a bit like slow motion and the contact wasn’t hard. Ex-first team coach said it was nothing!
Useful detailed informal feedback from the U president / assessor.
One highlight was a comment from the U skipper - “thank you sir, you are the best ref we have had all season” (maybe he says this to every ref in preparation for their next match!). Another was someone from U asking if I was available to ref their Men’s 7s tournament (either they are desperate or he liked that I can run and that I don’t blow my whistle much!). I won't read too much into these comments, but since they came from the losing club I took them as a sign I'd had a decent day.
Embarrassing moment was getting pushed over by a maul that came my way in a hurry – and caught on
camera:
The other lowlight was the cold refs’ shower again.
16 Dec 2006
Men's SW2: Chichester 51 v Pulborough 0
Life is good again!
Weather sunny and crisp. Pitch soft. Players easy to get on with and
I've never seen so many smiles on a pitch before!
I had been apprehensive during the week - this being my first Div 2 game and only after two Div 3 games and a couple of friendlies at senior level - how did I and up with a Div 2 game?. Also with both teams in the relegation zone I really didn't know what to expect.
I am trying to get out of my habit of over-managing and under-penalising so made a conscious effort to blow early at rucks, to give penalties earlier that I normally do and not give any benefit of the doubt on close decisions - it works - but you all knew that already!
After a late start due to confusion over numbers due to P turning up with 13 - we eventually got agreement to get a player loaned and started 15v14 - Chi had the better of all aspects of the game. 10-0 after 28 mins, but then regular scores and we finished 10mins early on request of both teams. P got really close 2 or 3 times, but not enough support players around to finish them off. Chi made a lot of ground in this match running through tackles.
Having deliberately focused so hard on the breakdown and offsides I was told afterwards that I had missed a lot of hands in the scrum by the flankers (apparently they were having a running joke over it!). In the past I have popped round the far side of the scrum after shouting 'engage' a few times per match, but forgot this time and they took advantage - swines! I was also too close at the scrums. I suppose it's a case of '3 steps forward 2 steps back' like all learning curves.
I gave about 5 forward passes against Chi - most would have led to tries - and we had a good bit of friendly banter about them on the pitch, but the non playing Chi skipper running touch said I had got every one right!
An honour to watched by David Mac for this one and a P player (missed his name - tut!) who is also 'one of us' (described himself as the noisy one at the back of the Soc meetings) gave some good (ie useful and complimentary!) feedback after the game as did all the players I spoke to.
Having had thoughts of giving up two weeks ago after all the stuff from 'that' coach from Lakenham Ladies, today's game has had the opposite effect :o)
Three or four weeks off for me now to find out if the achilles problemof mine will clear up with some rest I need to get out of this habit of limping for 3 days after a match (since Sept) and back in the habit of running during the week (not since early August).
10 Dec 2006
U16L: Hove 0 v East Grinstead 22
3 Dec 2006
U15L: Worthing 7 v Hove 0
A real battle in the mud.
26 Nov 2006
Ladies Div1S: Hove 12 v Lakenham 10
Women's Div leaders (Red) having won 6 out of 6 with Blue on 3 out of 6:
Sunny and pitch was good having had a chance to dry in the brisk cross wind since yesterday.
4 tries in the game - all run in from a decent way out. H after 10mins L after 20 and H again in the last play of first half (converted). L got the only score of the 2nd half 10 mins in, then a lot of play between the 22s - last few minutes were near the L try line.
Great game to be part of - lots of forward play which suited Blue but some good handling and running in the backs too.
Blues thought I'd had a good game - "better than quite a few of the refs we've had this season"!!! [I mention this only because it stopped the thoughts I had been having in the changing room about giving up].
However, the winging Red coach had an alternative opinion!
He worried me at the pre-match chats. When the skippers toss up I am now in the habit of getting them to take two messages back the their teams - 'keep the tackles down and absolutely no boots on bodies'. I was within earshot and impressed by the way the Red skipper communicated this to her team, but immediately the coach came over to me and asked if the message and been right and did the laws change this season?
He added that rucking players was definitely allowed in the laws, it is the only way to clear players out of the way, that his team was the better team and they wanted to make sure Blues weren't slowing the ball. I said it wasn't allowed, that we had been encouraged this season especially to penalise boot on bodies and that maybe there was a different interpretation in their area. We had the 'what if it's accidental when someone's gone for the ball' discussion, but he clearly thought I'd just invented a new law and told me to make sure I penalised players slowing ball down and that he would be making a lot of noise from the sideline!
Mmmm! .....and he did!
He moaned on and off throughout the game - not quite enough, or abusive enough, for me to get rid of him - just moans.
He was instructing his players from the sideline to deal with Blue players on the floor because I wasn't - luckily his players and I got on pretty well and they ignored him. I wouldn't let that sort of comment from a coach go again.
From what I heard of his comments to his players, all he ever did was have a go at them - at one point I think he shouted "[Red] pack - you're **** rubbish".
After the match I was warming down on the far touchline and he came across from the clubhouse for a chat. No raised voices, but all moans. Started with how long have I been refereeing and had I ever played. He had years of experience and was a referee and I had got everything wrong.
I won't go through his list, but he was particularly ante the tackle area and gave the example of 4 consecutive tackles/rucks with Red in possession where Blue were killing the ball and it was only the 4th where I gave a penalty for Blue player going off her feet. I'm thinking how did they win 3 rucks in quick succession if the ball had been killed every time?
I saw a game which had the ball presented pretty well at the tackle/ruck, but the players weren't getting it out quickly. He saw what he saw - and as he was walking back to the clubhouse said he was looking forward to getting my card (feedback card) in the bar - and he got one of his players to come and ask for it as well.
Apparently, he came up with the classic "great game ruined by the **** ref" at the bar.
Before today my attitude has been that everyone I meet in rugby has more experience than me, so they must always be right. Today I changed my mind!
I also learned a lot about where my tolerance level is for acting on coaches' comments from the touchline!!!
None of this means I had a perfect game, of course - I'm sure Blues got away with stuff I missed ( and my mauls weren't so good today.
12 Nov2006
U18L: East Grinstead 66 v Hastings 0
5 Nov 2006
U16L: Worthing 13 v Crawley 12
Top conditions and Blue's 1st team pitch. Great game - plenty of forward battles - plenty of open play - lot's of continuity - players well behaved - close scoreline - friendly coaches - and my ankle wasn't too painful!
I come off the pitch thinking I'd had possibly my best game yet and wondering why all matches couldn't be like this.... THEN:
The Reds' coaches came over to me and said they were going to put in a formal complaint about me.
... Interesting twist!
They were very polite - even chatty - explaining that they thought I'd been wrong in refusing to give a conversion after the TJ had flagged it as OK. And while they were at it they were going to complain about a penalty I had given for dangerous play which led to Blue's match winning 3pts. The reason they said they would be making a formal complaint was that their players weren't happy (or words to that effect).
I explained that I had a really good view of the conversion attempt, it had passed the try line higher than the height of the posts from a kick about 20m out and I was absolutely sure it was to the left of the left post. I believed the TJ had honestly given what he had seen from his perspective, but the TJs are advisory and if I've clearly seen it differently I have to give what I have seen - to me this wasn't even a 'benefit of the doubt' decision ... it missed.
After, he said a spectator behind the posts had seen it as in. I was approached by another spectator after the match who told me it definitely missed.
The dangerous 'tackle' was on an attacking ball carrier who was being held by a defender and stationary when another defender ran in very fast and simply collided head-on with the ball carrier - no arms, he just ran into him at speed. All three players were on their feet and very upright. I saw it as illegal and dangerous. Coaches said the running-in player had tripped, couldn't control the contact and almost got injured.
What a weird experience!
28 Oct 2006
Men's Friendly: Littlehampton 18 v Worthing III/IV 17
Wow, this was a big step up in standard for me - a much faster game, not in
terms of running, but in terms of reaction times needed. Didn't cope at all well,
but lots of learnings. Skippers as generous as they could be afterwards.
15 Oct 2006
Ladies League: East Grinstead 34 v New Ash Green 20
High scoring match played in great spirit.
1 Oct 2006
U15L: Haywards Heath 15 v Hove 12
Big crowd for this challenging encounter. Hove went ahead with what the home
crowd thought was a forward pass but HH took it in the last minute with what
the visiting crowd thought was a forward pass. Both equally marginal, so I was
OK with the outcomes.
24 Sept 2006
U17 Cup: Bognor 51 v Pulborough 0
Easy game.
17 Sept 2006
U19 Cup: Hastings 24 v East Grinstead 22
Nice welcome from a coach - "Nice to have a ref who can keep up with this lot".
EG in the lead 22-12 until 15 mins to go. Top match.
10 Sept 2006
Ladies Friendly: Hove 55 v Salisbury 5
An eye opener seeing Hove for the first time - much more intensive than the
previous Ladies game I did.
