Crack down on the card happy refs – Griffiths
CLIVE GRIFFITHS has renewed his calls for the introduction of a Rugby League-style report system after seeing three of his players sin-binned at Bristol last Sunday.
The Knights inflicted a first defeat of the season on the West Country giants, winning 33-22 in the British & Irish Cup, despite losing Nick Civetta, Michael Hills and Tom Hicks to yellow cards.
Hicks’ dismissal was the 50th of its kind across the first eight weeks of the season and Griffiths believes referees should be less card happy.
“I’ve been saying it all along, it makes the game disjointed, particularly if it’s a front rower coming off the field,” said Griffiths, who once took Wales RL to a World Cup semi-final.
“Nick Civetta comes out the line to tackle (Callum) Sheedy and throws an arm out once he is stepped and catches him on the ‘swede’ and is straight off, no questions asked. This is a 6ft 7in player tackling a 5ft 10in player. Yes, it was a high shot, but it wasn’t a swinging arm with the intention of knocking his head off.
“The other two cards were for being pinned down on the wrong side of the ruck. What are they supposed to do, tackle someone and not fall over? I know there has got to be discipline but there also has to be a degree of game management by the man in the middle.
“It seems to be a case of, ‘I’ve got you, son, off you go for a sit down’.
“In Rugby League, they seem to try to keep players on the field wherever possible, and put them on report if they’re not sure about an incident. For me, that’s not a cop out.”
Having completed a hattrick of Ashton Gate victories over Bristol, the third-placed Knights are now focusing on picking up their fifth league win of the season against a Pirates side six places below them in ninth.
Fellow Welshman Gavin Cattle will be in the opposition dug-out and Griffiths is looking forward to renewing his acquaintance.
“I rated him as a scrumhalf and he’s a good bloke too,” Griffiths said. “I’ve got a lot of time and respect for both him and Alan Paver.
“It is tough for them with where they are geographically, but they always seem to get the best out of players and I’ve no doubt we’ll come up against a very committed team.”
Richard List is set to make his 200th appearance for Doncaster. Matt Challinor shifts to the back row and Alex Shaw switches to No.8 in place of Jason Hill.
Michael Heaney gets the nod at scrum-half switching with Tom James.
Pirates include centre Pete Laverick, No.8 Tom Lawday, and flanker Josh Caulfield, all three of whom are dual-registered with Exeter.
Chris Fuca, on loan from Redruth, is on the bench after his star man display against Ulster last week.
Coach Paver said: “The spirit in the squad is good. It will be a challenge, the Knights are a strong, welloiled outfit and have been together a long time now with good infrastructure.”