CRUNCH MATCH TAKES A TWIST
Brisbane ref to control Risdon Cup showdown
IT IS TESTAMENT TO THE STANDARD OF DOWNS RUGBY THAT WE CAN APPOINT ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S HIGH-PERFORMING REFEREES. SCOTT LINDBLOM
RUGBY UNION: Riddles Oval will be no place for the fainthearted this weekend when it hosts one of 2018’s blockbuster Wagners Risdon Cup matches and who better to keep an eye on the action than one of Australia’s leading referees.
Tomorrow’s round-14 game brings together equal competition leaders Goondiwindi and Dalby in a clash that in all likelihood will decide this year’s minor premiership.
Goondiwindi is unbeaten after 13 rounds this season while Dalby’s only loss was at the home to the Emus, 29-14, in their round-one game.
But with tomorrow’s game already carrying high stakes, the meeting will take on added significance with Brisbane Premier Grade referee Shane Barr to control the match.
Barr has been a Brisbane competition referee for a number of years and has been part of match official teams at Super Rugby and the National Rugby Championship.
This week’s Goondiwindi assignment marks a return to Barr’s “country roots”.
He was born and raised on a South Burnett farm and grew up playing rugby league before first playing rugby union while a student at Ipswich Grammar School.
Barr’s Risdon Cup match appointment came at the invitation of the Darling Downs Rugby Referees Association.
Association president Scott Lindblom said Barr’s appearance helps underline the stature of Darling Downs rugby.
“Rugby Australia actively support grass roots rugby and it is testament to the standard of Downs rugby that we can appoint one of Australia’s highperforming referees to officiate this top-of-the-table country game,” Lindblom said.
“Shane has an open and expansive game style which augurs well for the running game we expect between Goondiwindi and Dalby.
“Raised in country Queensland, Shane possesses great empathy for the toughness of country rugby.”