Dan, that was a waste of five minute of my life, and of watching the girls bring the Cricket World Cup Home. Give your head a wobble and come back soon. Glad to have you back, though, all the same.
Your right about the tackle that led to Smith 'hitting out'. The touch judge should have come on with his camp flag raised in the air. It was poor from Gilmour, gouging at eyes, second Saints player pulling hair etc, that's what led to Smiths reaction, so it's wasn't a 'perfectly fair tackle' at all.
I thought the ref needed some help there to be honest, he just sees Smiths reaction, and tough judge misses the tackle out when he's talking to him, so he calls it righ on the information that he's given. If he sees the SKY pictures, Smith will get the penalty, it was more of an attack to the face than the Cunningham one.
Saints were much better than Leeds on Friday anyhow, I though Flannery was excellent. I thought Luke Burgess was very impressive for Leeds. Lots of tough stuff going on, heads getting taken off etc, I thought he just kept carting the ball in all night long, didn't react etc. I thought it was a very composed performance from him, and with good yard gains etc. He's in danger of being better than his brother if he's not careful.
Your right about the tackle that led to Smith 'hitting out'. The touch judge should have come on with his camp flag raised in the air. It was poor from Gilmour, gouging at eyes, second Saints player pulling hair etc, that's what led to Smiths reaction, so it's wasn't a 'perfectly fair tackle' at all.
I've watched the game again and from the picture it is impossible to say whether Gilly actually was gouging. The first punch was undoubtedly by Smith.
If,as Gilly said, Smith did bite him then the reaction by Gilly was fully justified.
"They'd butt each other like a pair of billy goats and would both look like a mess at the end of the game. I'd often see Billy an hour later sharing a beer with his rival, with both blokes sporting half a dozen stitches in their scones. They were a breed apart, fornt-rowers - blokes like Bluey were proof of that." Johnny Raper on Billy Wilson and other front rowers of the time
I've watched the game again and from the picture it is impossible to say whether Gilly actually was gouging. The first punch was undoubtedly by Smith. If,as Gilly said, Smith did bite him then the reaction by Gilly was fully justified.
No it wasn't, Smith pushed out or call it what you wil, but it wasn't a punch. It was one of those things that you see at hundreds of play of the balls which I find a little annoying, whereby they lash out at the tackler as they aren't happy with something involved within the tackle. Gilmour, for whatever reason decided to wade into him, so in theory he punched first, not Smith.
I still maintain, Gilmour was gouging away at Smiths eye, and I'm not sure who else was involved, but the second tackler was pulling hair etc. If he wasn't gouging, he had his hands all around Smiths eye area, which is dangerous.
I thought it was a strange reaction by Gilmour, so maybe he did bite him. It's not something that i'd associate with him brawling. Smith didn't really retaliate did he.
No it wasn't, Smith pushed out or call it what you wil, but it wasn't a punch.
It was a punch to the face.
JWP wrote:
It was one of those things that you see at hundreds of play of the balls which I find a little annoying, whereby they lash out at the tackler as they aren't happy with something involved within the tackle.
There is a difference between pushing in the chest after a tackle and pushing (punching) in the face during the tackle.
JWP wrote:
Gilmour, for whatever reason decided to wade into him, so in theory he punched first, not Smith.
As above, for me Smith punched him first.
JWP wrote:
I still maintain, Gilmour was gouging away at Smiths eye, and I'm not sure who else was involved,
It was Wilkin who was also in the tackle. I've watched it numerous times and there is no way that it is possible to say that Gilly is gouging the eyes of Smith. He may be but you cannot see it.
JWP wrote:
but the second tackler was pulling hair etc. If he wasn't gouging, he had his hands all around Smiths eye area, which is dangerous.
The same as most tacklers have hands on the head area when they are leaning forward/ on the knees.
I thought it was a strange reaction by Gilmour, so maybe he did bite him. It's not something that i'd associate with him brawling. Smith didn't really retaliate did he.[/quote]
Gilly said he was biten. Smith didn't say he was gouged.
Smith didn't have the chance to retaliate.
Smith must have been judged to have done something wrong as we got the penalty.
There is a difference between pushing in the chest after a tackle and pushing (punching) in the face during the tackle.
As above, for me Smith punched him first.
It was Wilkin who was also in the tackle. I've watched it numerous times and there is no way that it is possible to say that Gilly is gouging the eyes of Smith. He may be but you cannot see it.
The same as most tacklers have hands on the head area when they are leaning forward/ on the knees.
I thought it was a strange reaction by Gilmour, so maybe he did bite him. It's not something that i'd associate with him brawling. Smith didn't really retaliate did he.
Gilly said he was biten. Smith didn't say he was gouged.
Smith didn't have the chance to retaliate.
Smith must have been judged to have done something wrong as we got the penalty.
I do love a good neutral prospective, great to see that you can look at things from a completely non biased prospective. Fair play to you.
Last edited by JWP on Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:11 pm, edited 2 times in total.
When i was taking to my friend the the other day he asked me how gateshead hull were getting on thats how good hull are relegated then bought there way back into the league real classy
There is a difference between pushing in the chest after a tackle and pushing (punching) in the face during the tackle.
As above, for me Smith punched him first.
It was Wilkin who was also in the tackle. I've watched it numerous times and there is no way that it is possible to say that Gilly is gouging the eyes of Smith. He may be but you cannot see it.
The same as most tacklers have hands on the head area when they are leaning forward/ on the knees.
I thought it was a strange reaction by Gilmour, so maybe he did bite him. It's not something that i'd associate with him brawling. Smith didn't really retaliate did he.
they are obsessed with us. If we dont lose they cant gloat thus find other mechanisms to lash out at the mighty Saints.
When i was taking to my friend the the other day he asked me how gateshead hull were getting on thats how good hull are relegated then bought there way back into the league real classy