Marist Brothers High School has filed a letter of contest and appeal in relation to last Saturday’s Coke Zero Deans final between Marist and RKS.
The letter signed by Marist Principal, John Atalifo to the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Association highlights a few decisions made by the match officials during the Under 18 final.
Atalifo says the touch judge failed to wave down his flag during the game proper to notify the referee should there have been an offence made by Marist.
He says the touch judge was seen consulting the referee after the try was awarded to Marist.
Atalifo says after watching the video replay there was no evidence of an infringement which necessitated the reversal of the decision of the referee.
The Marist Principal says the vetting system of the officials failed to see that one of the touch judges has strong affiliation to the Eastern Zone and is connected to one of the prominent boys’ school in the Eastern Zone.
He says the neutrality of the controlling of the game is highly questionable.
Atalifo says the referee awarding the try to Marist in the first place proved he was confident in awarding the try.
He says the referee must have waived in his decision by the touch judge who suddenly appeared to indicate an infringement play by Marist during the game proper and subsequently reversed his decision.
Atalifo says to their understanding of the game laws, the referee should have awarded the try.
He further says that during the pick and drive after the final hooter, RKS committed professional fouls in trying to stop the Marist forwards.
Atalifo says he thinks the referee erred in his decisions and kept his card in his pocket.
Vice President of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Association, Lionel Danford says they thank Marist for the concerns that have been raised and these issues will be considered before next year’s Deans Rugby competition.
Danford says the referee’s decision is final and RKS will hold the trophy after winning the match 8-5.
On the neutrality of the match officials in the final, Danford says they will also look into this.
Danford confirms that the Association President Setareki Merekula had asked them to get top referee, James Bolabiu to ref the final.
However this did not go ahead.
He says they will ensure that top and neutral match officials are used in the matches from next year.
