Little comfort for Connacht

Scottish referee Rob Dickson has confirmed that he penalised Connacht under Law 10.2 (a) in awarding a controversial injury time penalty against the Irish province that cost them victory over the Ospreys in a Celtic League match at the New Stadium last weekend.

Dickson would not be interviewed directly by The Irish Times but through the Scottish Rugby Union's Media Officer Graham Law the official did confirm that he had penalised Connacht for time wasting but under Law 10.2 (a) and not (b), which seems a more logical application.

The relevant law governs "Unfair Play" and the specifics of 10.2 (a) are outlined in the panel. It refers to intentionally offending and carries the censure of a penalty amongst other options. Subsection (b) makes specific reference to time wasting, the offence that Dickson concedes he penalised Connacht for and would appear the more relevant in this instance.

The censure this time would be a free kick. Dickson may be looking for an option in defending himself over his decision to award the Ospreys a penalty as Connacht dawdled over a drop out in injury-time at the end of the match in question. Ospreys replacement Shaun Connors stepped up and knocked over the resultant penalty to snatch an 18-17 win for the home side. Dickson refused to discuss the matter and would not be drawn any further.

Celtic League Chief Executive David Jordan pointed out that there was no avenue open to Connacht to overturn the result. "Under the IRB rules the referee is the sole judge of fact and law on the pitch. There won't be any change to the result.

"We haven't had any formal communication from Connacht with regard to the issue. We will await the assessor's report. We look at a lot of issues to do with the game on an ongoing basis and won't necessarily be focusing in on this incident."

Connacht's reaction was one of dismay, tinged with the knowledge that there weren't going to get any satisfaction over the matter. Team manager Tim Allnutt shrugged: "We were absolutely gutted, really frustrated and annoyed more so for the fact that we had played our best rugby of the season and deserved the reward of a victory.

"We have to take all the positives out of the occasion and try and use them when we play in European competition at the weekend. It might be the catalyst that marks an upsurge in our performances this season. You can't afford to be too critical of the referee as we are likely to come across him again this season."

Dickson had never refereed Connacht in a Celtic League match prior to the Ospreys game.

Rule 10.2

(a) Intentionally Offending. A player must not intentionally infringe any Law of the Game or play unfairly. The player who intentionally offends, must be either admonished, or cautioned that a send off will result if the offence or a similar offence is committed, or sent off. After a caution a player is temporarily suspended for a period of 10 minutes playing time.

After the caution if a player commits the same or similar offence, the player must be sent off. Penalty: Penalty.

(b) Time Wasting. A player must not intentionally waste time. Penalty: Free kick.