Case Number:

ON/1243/24

Emma Hutchinson #2, Barrow

Competition:

Womens Super League

Match:

Barrow Raiders v Leeds Rhinos

Match Date:

2024-07-21

Incident:

Dangerous Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Grade E

Fine:

£50

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Guilty

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 25th July 2024, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 36 37 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have applied pressure to the leg of your opponent. The Panel believe your actions were serious misconduct and 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 E offence – Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 3 to 5 matches.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in the above match.

• The opponent can be seen to take a carry off the scrum and is contacted by several Barrow players including Miss Hutchinson.

• The opponent breaks through the initial contact with Miss Hutchinson taking a grip around the waist of her opponent.

• Miss Hutchinson then proceeds to drop her bodyweight and brings her legs towards the opponent.

• The footage shows first pressure being applied by the knee of Miss Hutchinson towards the leg of her opponent.

• Miss Hutchinson then proceeds to let more of her body weight drop and her thigh applies pressure to the leg again.

• The opponent is in a vulnerable position.

• Miss Hutchinson actions are of a reckless nature.

• Opponent leaves the field and cannot bear weight on her leg.

• The Match Review Panel believed that given the actions of the player and the subsequent outcome that this was an exceptional case which did not fit within the parameters of a Grade A to D offence for this type of Dangerous Contact.

• Grade E due to:
- Highly reckless act of pushing body through onto the legs of her opponent.
- Significant weight of player going through opponent’s leg.
- Opponent is in a vulnerable position and can in no way mitigate for the actions of Miss Hutchinson.
- Player is solely responsible for their actions.
- A serious injury has occurred in this instance.

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

Player in attendance alongside Steve Neale (Chair). Player pleads guilty.

EH tackled through the tackle. Firstly, she apologised for any harm that was caused to her opponent and said she had gone into the tackle with no intent to cause any injury.

She felt she had come to make the tackle from the side and the momentum of the opponent had caused her to move round, before other teammates joined the tackle. The tackle has then seen the players fall, and unfortunately, she had landed on the limbs of the opponent.

She added that the penalty awarded at the time was for a “ball strip” rather than any foul play.

SN added that EH has no previous disciplinary issues and has never received a red or yellow card in her career. The club feel this was purely accidental and caused by the momentum of the three players involved in the tackle.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have listened to the submissions made by both the MRP and the player.

In their judgement they feel this was a “drop tackle” done with significant force. They feel this was reckless in its execution and there were many others ways in which the tackle could have been completed without causing injury to the opponent. One example for instance, could have been the player sliding down the legs of the opponent.

There was nothing the opponent could do to mitigate her position and she suffered an injury as a consequence. This was a bad tackle and the Tribunal agree it is correctly graded at Grade E.

With regard to the sentencing the player has a clean disciplinary record and credit should also be given for accepting the charge. The Tribunal therefore feel the appropriate sanction is a three-match suspension and £50 fine.

Suspension:

3 matches