Case Number:

ON/1042/22

Benn Hardcastle #7, Midlands

Competition:

League 1

Match:

Midlands Hurricanes v West Wales Raiders

Match Date:

2022-06-05

Incident:

Dangerous Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Dangerous Contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.

Grade D

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Not Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 9 June 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(1) Dangerous Contact

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:45:22 SharePoint time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you made a tackle that was dangerous. 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 in breach of Law 15.1(i) – Dangerous Contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 3-5 matches or period of suspension.

• Incident occurs at 45 22 of the match
• The player was sin binned following the incident
• The opponent is tackled initially by Mr Hardcastle
• As the tackle develops the player’s team mate comes into join the tackle but adds minimal weight.
• The player turns the opponent and takes a grip around the chest.
• Player keeps opponent upright and footage shows the grip has progressed to a locking grip with the right arm over the shoulder and the left arm under the arm of the opponent.
• Mr Hardcastle then lifts the opponent upwards before dropping down with the opponent with the grip maintained.
• The player then pushes all his body weight down on the back of the opponents head and neck.
• This is for a significant period of time before the player allows the head to come free.
• Opponent is clearly injured
• Player has failed in his duty of care owed to his opponent
• Sole contributor to pressure being applied. Team mates actions have no impact on the tackle.
• Actions are clearly considered. Player has alternative ways in which to complete the tackle

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

Player in attendance alongside Darren Morson (Team Manager). Player pleads Not Guilty.

DM cited the involvement of a teammate who contributed to the incident as his presence prevented BH from bringing his opponent to the ground in a safe manner.

BH explained he was attempting to break his opponent’s posture and DM asked what other alternative the player had other than to let the player go free.

Decision:

Guilty

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have listened to the submissions from both sides and viewed footage of the incident on several occasions.

The panel feel that the initial grip used by the player is not ideal from the outset. This was followed by the lifting motion. It is said this was to break the opponent’s posture which we consider given the lifting and turning was the start of a potentially dangerous manoeuvre. However, what in fact happened was that the player couldn’t turn his opponent in the way that he wanted. Instead, the opponent was taken to the floor with pressure applied by the players body weight to the back of the opponent’s neck, whilst his head was trapped in the players’ grip. The opponent was in a very vulnerable position at this time.

Whilst we accept that the intention may have been simply to ensure that the opponent didn’t get away the player could in our view have adjusted his grip or could have simply held him up. No such efforts were made and instead he was taken to the ground in the way indicated.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Grade D due to:
- Highly reckless contact and unnecessary
- Pressure is applied for a significant period of time
- Involves an unacceptable risk of injury to the player
- No duty of care shown towards opponent

Aggravating Factors:

25/04/2019 – High Tackle (Grade C – 3 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

It does not sit well with the panel to be told that the player was only trying to ensure that he won the tackle when an opponent is placed in an obviously dangerous position to achieve that purpose.

This was a reckless act and did not take into account the safety of the opponent and we consider that the impact of a teammate came after the dangerous tackle had been completed

The panel are satisfied that this was a Dangerous Contact and that the Grade D is the appropriate grade.

The player is therefore suspended for 4-matches and fined £75.

Suspension:

4 matches