I think the referee was appauling yesterday. Not because I feel we were hard done to, just the style of his refereeing. I know he gets a lot of stick for making poor desicions, however its more the relentless penalties for every minro offence.
In super league (i know its a different league of official and player), referees are often heard calling things like 'number 6 you're two yards in front there), not always blowing the shistle in an attempt to make the game flow. Laughton cannot do this, I think he cant keep up with the speedof the play the ball. Every set of 6 pretty much had an infringement in there, holding down or offside. Fine to the letter of the rule book its an offence however free flowing rugby is completely out of the question.
Each set of 6 is a carefully managed play for Laughton, in fact we only ever got about 3 5th tackle kicks out! if you could spread bet on the number of penalties in a game you would have safe money on games officiated by him.
In my opinion it makes the game rubbish to watch and spoiled it, we did play well however if the game was free flowing we would probably got 40 points on the board. Fair play to oldham though, they played till 80 minutes and were also on the other end of Laughtons game slowing.
Laughton did not blow for two blatent high tackles, both by Cougars in the last 5 mins. One appeared deliberate and dangerous, whilst some play acting may have been involved the referee saw it with his own eyes and made no acknowledgment. Didn't tap his shoulder to say 'not on the head' just stood there perplexed while the player limped to his feet after a minute.
He is so poor it is becoming dangerous to the players.
