Case Number:

ON/023/22

Lewis Charnock #25, Swinton

Competition:

Warm Up Matches

Match:

Swinton v Whitehaven

Match Date:

2022-01-23

Incident:

Punching at 13 25

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Strikes Punching - Reaction to opponent – lashing out -– makes contact with Head of opponent

Grade D

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 27th January 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 14th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you punched out at your opponent. The Panel believe that your actions were unnecessary, against the spirit of the game and had the potential to injure your opponent.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence (Strikes – punching – Reaction to opponent – lashing out – makes contact with Head of opponent). The normal suspension range for such offence is a 3 - 5 Match Suspension.

• Incident occurs in approximately the 14th minute
• Player is involved in a skirmish with opponent on the floor
• Mr Charnock gets up in a confrontational manner and punches in opponent in the head
• There is no reaction by his opponent and Mr Charnock refrains from throwing a second punch
• No other punches it can be seen are thrown or connect in this instance from the player
• Grade D due to:
- One Punch thrown that connects with the head area
- There are not numerous punches thrown in this instance
- Punch is not one of a forceful nature.
- Potential for injury
- Clubs have been updated about the proposed changes to the Guidelines in this area throughout 2021 and the confirmed rules were circulated in December

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

LC in attendance alongside Allan Coleman (Head Coach) and pleads guilty.

AC addressed the panel and explained that LC understands he did not behave in the correct manner and that the club are working with him.

LC admitted he had overstepped the mark having reacted to some verbal provocation from the opponent.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for the submissions.

They accept that the punch was thrown following some provocation from the opponent, however, any punches that make contact with the head are now deemed to be Grade D offences and as such the Tribunal agree that that grading of this charge is correct.

Following submissions from the player and taking into account his previous disciplinary record the Tribunal feel that the suspension should be towards the lower end of the grading and therefore suspend the player for 3 matches.

Whilst they understand it can be difficult the Tribunal are of the opinion that the player must understand the need to react different in future.

Suspension:

3 matches