Coutas say sorry over face-off

QUEENSCLIFF has moved to soothe tensions with rival Barrabool following an ugly spat in a match last month.

The Coutas yesterday confirmed they had apologised to the Bulls for their part in a verbal on-field confrontation, which ignited when veteran Queenscliff opening batsman Toby Smith was given out for obstructing the field.

Smith and Barrabool captain Kane Pickering were embroiled in a mid-pitch altercation at Ceres Reserve on February 8 after Smith reacted angrily to his dismissal.

But the players escaped sanction, with BPCA president Ian Caldwell conceding the executive was powerless to take any further action.

“Due to the (differing) information that was supplied to the association, and the fact an apology was offered and received, no further action was deemed necessary by the executive,” Caldwell said.

“The episode left the association in a position where we would have liked to have had more information at our disposal so we could make a full evaluation of what transpired during the game.”

Under current BPCA bylaws, it is understood the executive is unable to turn to an independent tribunal to resolve the incident, nor request an investigation.

Queenscliff and Barrabool were issued a please explain from the BPCA in the wake of the incident, but the clubs offered vastly different accounts of what unfolded.

Smith is also unlikely to face any sanctions for his behaviour in the aftermath, despite admitting he hurled abuse at Pickering and his Barrabool teammates.