I’ve read a few things on this thread regarding the Crig v Eastmoor game at the weekend and thought I’d post something from the Eastmoor perspective.
The first half saw a very competitive, if at times scrappy due to the conditions, encounter and credit must go to all players involved. At half time the score was 4-0 to Eastmoor. We went into the changing rooms and were ready to come back out when the referee asked us to go back to the changing rooms as he needed a word with our head coach and captain. The referee then explained that Crigglestone didn’t want to play the second half due to the weather conditions, although the ref wanted the second half to take place, and having consulted with our players we wanted to continue.
As this situation had not arisen for the referee before, he rightly telephoned his peers to seek advice. The referee was told that he obviously couldn’t drag players out to play and therefore his only option was to abandon the match. The referee told us he would put in his report that we wanted to continue and that he felt the game could go ahead. We were satisfied with the actions the referee had taken. We didn’t come out of the changing rooms for the second half as we realised the game had been abandoned.
On the last 3 occasions we’ve played Crigglestone we’ve conceded at least 50 points in each game so to be in front and keep the scoreline at zero was a fantastic achievement by our players and one they should rightly be proud of. I’m not going to suggest that we’d have won the game as Crig are, and have been for the last few seasons, a well coached and champion side, but we’d have walked off with our heads held high having given them a good game (which is something we haven’t done for a while)
The frustration for our players came from the fact that the opposition decided that the game should be abandoned rather than the referee and were rightly wondering if the same situation would have occurred if Crig were winning by 30?
I’ve also read that only 7 Eastmoor players came into the clubhouse after the match. We had 16 players on Sunday and all of them enjoyed the food provided – great lasagna thanks!!
I’m not sure what happened regarding any confrontation with the referee later as I wasn’t involved but the Eastmoor coaching team was happy with the actions he took.
I agree that it is completely barmy to switch to summer rugby & start the season in January!!!
