Being a referee has many challenges - crowd abuse, fear of making a wrong decision and being blamed for costing a team the win.
The reward comes when thanked by the players after the game when they say “good game ref.”
One particular challenging game stands out as for me. In 1985, WA played the national Canadian side at the old Perry Lakes Main stadium. Not the best rugby venue due to the circular athletic track which made the in -goal areas irregularly shaped. Moreover, the goal posts installed looked like they were borrowed from a school oval as the vertical uprights were tiny to say the least. Certainly not up to standard for an International game.
Someone at WA Rugby recognised this shortcoming and extended the upright posts by slipping on about five metres of PVC piping. However, due to the flexibility of the piping, they had an outward bow in them making the gap towards the top larger than at the cross bar.
The pressure was on, as from memory WA had never beaten a visiting International side.
During the game I awarded a penalty to WA. The kick at goal was high and seemed to barely go through the up rights. The current law at the time stated the uprights are a straight, vertical line measured from their base skyward, Notwithstanding the fact the posts were bowed outwards, both touch judges raised their flags and a goal was awarded. The Canadian captain, who was approximately 10 metres away questioned the decision but I admitted to him that it was a very close call. At this stage there was very little separating the two teams on the scoreboard.
Just before half time, another penalty was awarded to WA in about the same place. This time the kick appeared to both me, and the Canadian captain to be outside the right hand, crooked upright. Both touch judges though, raised their flags for a goal which would put WA in the lead.
What a dilemma. If I award the goal and put WA in the lead, I might easily be accused of home town favouritism or even cheating. On the other hand, if I overrule the touch judges’ decision and as a result WA loses the match I will be run out of town by WA supporters. The correct and moral decision, however, was to maintain my integrity and disallow the goal, which I did.
In the end it did not affect the outcome of the match as WA went on to defeat Canada 16 to 6.
As a footnote, one of the touch judges spoke to me after the game and admitted that he was glad I disallowed the goal as he thought ball did not go through the uprights but only raised his flag because the other touch judge did.
Was I pleased that WA won.
