: Mon May 18, 2009 10:52 am  

finglas wrote:

Only thought about this when reading the above comment, but if a player is offside to play at the ball, is he also offside when tackling an opposition player who picks up the ball.

Can't say I've seen as crucial a decision as that, given the timing (apart from Millenium Magic) but I'm sure there's been plenty of knock-ons or the like where the tackling player was in front of the player that lost the ball and don't remember an instance of them being penalised

I'd also go with your second paragraph. It's an interesting talking point (or perhaps not on here) and I don't know the rule book answer.

Had Shenton taken a couple of steps back to behind the point where Sherwin lost contact with the ball (Sherwin continued sliding away from the ball so Shenton wasn't that far in front) he would have been onside and able to contest the ball with McGuire. Had he done so (given the nine seconds left on the clock) the game likely as not is drawn.

Nice work Michael.

: Mon May 18, 2009 10:56 am  

Don't be too harsh on the lad. You can see him hesitate, before picking the ball up, indicating to me he knew it was the lesser of two evils.

These players aren't academics, I think multiple options in a split second is pushing it for most people.

He did the right thing IMO. Lucky for us the ref got the call right, and Sinny hit the target

: Mon May 18, 2009 11:06 am  

leicester_rhino wrote:

Don't be too harsh on the lad. You can see him hesitate, before picking the ball up, indicating to me he knew it was the lesser of two evils.

These players aren't academics, I think multiple options in a split second is pushing it for most people.

He did the right thing IMO. Lucky for us the ref got the call right, and Sinny hit the target

Not being harsh, I give him credit for the hesitation.

He still did the wrong thing though, especially if he realised/suspected he was giving away the game winning penalty. The better option was to tackle McGuire as/if he took possession. McGuire was far from certain to score (highly unlikely) and Leeds would have only had one play left to win the game.

Expected Sinfield to do another cartwheel.

: Mon May 18, 2009 11:32 am  

tvoc wrote:

Not being harsh, I give him credit for the hesitation.

He still did the wrong thing though, especially if he realised/suspected he was giving away the game winning penalty. The better option was to tackle McGuire as/if he took possession. McGuire was far from certain to score (highly unlikely) and Leeds would have only had one play left to win the game.

Expected Sinfield to do another cartwheel.

Shenton would have still been penalised and the game cannot finish without the penalty been taken. Therefore Sinfield kicks the penalty and we lose by two.

: Mon May 18, 2009 11:44 am  

Dead Man Walking wrote:

Shenton would have still been penalised and the game cannot finish without the penalty been taken. Therefore Sinfield kicks the penalty and we lose by two.

Penalised for tackling McGuire? Really, is that the rule?

Then he should of backed up a step or two (behind where Sherwin lost contact with the ball) and played himself onside before making the tackle. Leaving Leeds one play to win the match.

: Mon May 18, 2009 11:50 am  

Dead Man Walking wrote:

Shenton would have still been penalised and the game cannot finish without the penalty been taken. Therefore Sinfield kicks the penalty and we lose by two.

Except he wouldn't.

Once McGuire retrieves the ball, the relative position of any Cas player tackling him to where Sherwin last touched it is irrelevant. It wasn't from a kick, he doesn't have to give the Leeds player 10 metres if he's in front of the last of his team to touch the ball.

Course there was always the chance that he could have either timed it wrong and taken McGuire early (which risked giving away a penalty try) or missed the tackle and McGuire scores making the kick irrelevant.

While none of that would have most likely gone through his mind, the snap judgement he made to play the ball was entirely the right one in the circumstances.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:00 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Penalised for tackling McGuire? Really, is that the rule?

Then he should of backed up a step or two (behind where Sherwin lost contact with the ball) and played himself onside before making the tackle. Leaving Leeds one play to win the match.

I thought it was as Sherwin was on the floor and Shenton was in front of him nearer the ball.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:01 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Except he wouldn't.

Once McGuire retrieves the ball, the relative position of any Cas player tackling him to where Sherwin last touched it is irrelevant. It wasn't from a kick, he doesn't have to give the Leeds player 10 metres if he's in front of the last of his team to touch the ball.

Course there was always the chance that he could have either timed it wrong and taken McGuire early (which risked giving away a penalty try) or missed the tackle and McGuire scores making the kick irrelevant.

While none of that would have most likely gone through his mind, the snap judgement he made to play the ball was entirely the right one in the circumstances.

I thought Shenton would have been offside no matter what. Oh well it's all history now.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:03 pm  

Dead Man Walking wrote:

I thought Shenton would have been offside no matter what. Oh well it's all history now.

Yup.

: Mon May 18, 2009 12:17 pm  

thebloodbath wrote:

Yup.

Stop laughing.