Stomp costs Bryson an eight-week ban

Former Turbos halfback Karl Bryson has been handed an eightweek suspension from rugby for stomping in Manawatu club rugby.

The ban was confirmed at a Manawatu Rugby Union judicial hearing on Wednesday night where he was found guilty of breaking law 10.4b - stamping/ trampling on an opponent.

The College Old Boys halfback contested the charge, but was unsuccessful.

The incident occurred during the second half of College Old Boys’ loss to Varsity on the Arena backfields on Saturday.

Bryson was looking to clear the ball after team-mate Brice Henderson took it into contact about 10 minutes into the second half.

Varsity hooker Nick Grogan was over the ball in the jackal position when Bryson was alleged to have made contact on Grogan’s head with his boot.

Referee Matt Mcewen was near the breakdown, but awarded a penalty in favour of COB for Grogan sealing the ball off.

Varsity captain Hamish Northcott, Mcewen and Grogan had a lengthy discussion on the field, but the penalty stood.

Post match Grogan carried out the citing process with the match video as evidence.

Bryson’s suspension was originally for 12 weeks, but it was reduced to eight due to his clean record.

With COB having a bye in that period he will miss seven games, which will be a major blow to the team’s title chances considering he is one of their key backline leaders.

His first game back from suspension will be COB’S round-two rematch against Varsity on May 20.

Bryson played 26 games for Manawatu between 2010 and 2012.

A similar incident to Bryson’s also occurred in Feilding Old Boysoroua’s win over Feilding at Johnstone Park on Saturday.

In the final play of the first half, Yellows halfback Rex Lambert stomped towards the head of Foboroua flanker Brad Stratton.

The assistant referee saw the incident, sticking out his flag. But Lambert was only given a warning. He was not cited after the match.