Case Number:

ON/188/22

Sean Houghton #1, Royal Navy

Competition:

Challenge Cup

Match:

Royal Navy v York Acorn

Match Date:

2022-02-12

Incident:

Strikes with knees at 58 45

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1(c)

Drops knees first on an opponent on the ground

Grade B

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenging grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 14th February 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(c) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 58:45 of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you dropped knees first onto your opponent. The Panel believed that your actions had the potential to cause your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence – Drops knees first on an opponent on the ground.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from 1 to 2 matches.

• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Houghton makes contact with his opponent.
• Opponent is tackled by Mr Houghton’s team mates and brought to ground
• Mr Houghton is coming across towards the tackle and drops his knees towards the opponent.
• Clear from the footage that the right knee contacts the upper part of the opponents body and slides off after the initial impact.
• MRP accept that opponent is holding the lower back after the incident, but the footage clearly shows knees being dropped and contact being made.
• The action is unnecessary. The tackle has been completed.
• Contact is forceful.
• The player is not involved in the initial contact, so action is not careless but reckless
• Potential for injury
• The incident was not part of play.

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

Player represented by Sean Heaton (Chairman) and Jason Steele (Team Manager). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

SH explained that the players knees did end up on his opponent but they would question the severity of the charge.

They believe that the player loses his footing as he enters the tackle and that he also uses his hand simultaneously as he makes contact with the opponent. There is no intent and any contact is done accidentally. At the time of the incident the player is even unsure what’s happened as the game is stopped.

He added the player has an exemplary record both as a player and also as a Sargent during his military career. They asked the Tribunal to re-grade the charge to a lower one

The club them introduced a comparison clip (Savelio -Grade B) which they felt showed that the charge been discussed should be downgraded.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Graded B due to;
- Unnecessary contact. The tackle is completed.
- Forceful contact.
- Potential for injury
- Reckless act
- Duty of care owed to opponent

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Contact happened accidently and there is no intent from the player. The player loses his footing on approach to the tackle and this contributes to contact.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

They agree that the player does stumble in his approach to the tackle. They note he plea of guilt and acknowledge the fact that it was not intentional, and he used his hands as part of the contact. They Tribunal feel that this was careless or indeed clumsy and if the player had not stumbled this incident would not have happened.

They therefore feel the charge should be downgraded from a Grade B to a Grade A. This means that the player receives no suspension.

Suspension:

0 matches