Case Number:

ON/1217/23

Keera Bennett #9, Leeds

Competition:

Womens Super League

Match:

York Valkyrie v Leeds Rhinos

Match Date:

2023-07-16

Incident:

Dangerous Throw

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw – lifting opponent into a dangerous position.

Grade D

Sanctions:

2 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 20th July 2023, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(d) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01 39 55 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have lifted your opponent into a dangerous position. The Panel believed your actions were unnecessary, had the potential for injury and are against the spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence – Dangerous Throw – lifting opponent into dangerous position.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 2 to a 3-Match suspension.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in the above match.

• Miss Bennett was sin binned following the incident.

• MRP were concerned at the way both players complete the tackle.

• Miss Bennett is first into the tackle and makes initial contact but immediately begins to lift the leg of her opponent.

• Miss Glynn joins almost immediately after Miss Bennett’s initial contact and lifts the leg of the opponent.

• Miss Bennett can see as she turns that her teammate has joined the tackle yet continues to lift and only releases when the opponent is almost turned upside down.

• Miss Glynn knows that Miss Bennett is the first person so is aware of Miss Bennett’s initial contact yet decides to lift the other leg of her opponent. Miss Glynn keeps a hold of the leg going to ground.

• Both players extend legs from crouched to straight position.

• Opponent is twisted and her hips are above their head.

• Both players do not throw however the opponent is turned almost 180 degrees in the air.

• Opponent lands in a dangerous position. Opponent comes down on her upper chest, neck and head area.

• Serious risk of injury, due to this dangerous action.

• MRP not suggestion this is an intentional or malicious act.

• This was extremely reckless and dangerous.

• Grade D due to:
- Unnecessary nature of the upwards lifting motion
- Attacker lands in a very dangerous position
- Potential for serious injury

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

Player in attendance alongside Matt Cook (General Manager). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

MC confirmed that whilst the club plead guilty, they did so as they felt the charge should be amended to Dangerous Throw - Other tackler’s actions were part of the problem (only applies where Player is not aware of other tackler’s actions). The grading for this charge is Grade B to C.

MC talked through the incident and explained that the players had not talked during the tackle and had both gone for the same area od the opponent’s body. Neither player was sure that the other was involved and at the point of realising the opponent was in a dangerous position they both let go.

There was no malice involved and the actions were careless rather than reckless. If just one of the players had been involved then the outcome would have been very different. Both players have clean disciplinary records and KB was sin-binned following the incident. The game was level at the time and the incident happened in the closing stages.

KB talked the Tribunal through the tackle. She explained it was a high-pressure game and the opponent in question was a fellow England teammate and there was no malice involved. She felt that both players had taken a leg each and when the opponent ended up in a dangerous position they panicked and pulled out of the tackle.

This was the first time she had been sin-binned and she was upset about it all. She also apologised to the opponent afterwards.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

This is a decision arising out of a referral to the ORT from the MRP concerning a tackle made by the players during the game between York and Leeds on 16-7-23.

The MRP felt that the incident constituted a Dangerous Throw, such that the opponent was lifted into a dangerous position which would be a Grade D charge.

It was submitted on behalf of the players that this was the incorrect Grade for this incident. It was submitted that this incident should be classified as the less serious alternative that the “Other Tackler’s actions were part of the problem” as such should be graded lower at Grade B or C.

On viewing the footage, hearing arguments from both the RFL and from Matt Cook and the players themselves the Tribunal felt that this was a correctly graded referral from the MRP.

The players owed a duty of care to their opponent but, notwithstanding this, they effected a reckless and dangerous lift, placing the opposing player into a dangerous position. The lift put the tackled player way over the horizontal before the players then, no doubt panicking, let go of the tackled player.

The tackled player then landed on their head/neck/shoulder area.

The Tribunal felt that it was apparent from the footage both players would have been aware of their teammate in the tackle. It was accepted by both sides that this was not a malicious tackle and it was of note that both players spoke to the tackled player after the tackle and after the game to check on their welfare.

The MRP were correct with the grading of this offence and consequently the Tribunal felt that the sanction of a 2-match suspension was the appropriate penalty.

Suspension:

2 matches