Jamie Miller's column.


By Jamie Miller, Coventry Telegraph.
October 12 2011

SATURDAY’S game against Cambridge was frustrating on a number of levels. Obviously losing a game so late into injury time is always hard to bear but also several of the questions surrounding some of the officiating that led to such a nail-biting finish were left unanswered.

 

Should referees with a long history of playing for an arch rival club be allowed to take control of game involving their old enemy? Are the linesmen in National League One of a high enough standard to be considered “assistant referees”?

The result was that unfortunately another promising game of rugby at the Butts Park Arena was over shadowed by a controversial refereeing performance.

There were many parts of the game that left spectators with jaws dropped but the biggest mistake wasn’t made by the referee or his assistants but by the RFU for allowing a referee with such a background to take control of a Coventry match, thus allowing the perception of a potential lack of impartiality to exist in the first place.

Are assistant referees there to assist the referee in making decisions or are they there to simply marshal the touchline? In Saturday’s game both linesmen seemed to pick and choose when to get involved and when to sit back and do nothing – from a collapsed maul missed in the first minute to penalties against both teams missed throughout the match.

It was apparent that there was either a lack of understanding of the laws, a lack of understanding for their role, or a combination of the two.

Click here for more on this article.

 


 

 

Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 12/10/2011 18:28

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Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: bigm/ mark harrison. (IP Logged)
Date: 13/10/2011 07:43

good on jamie and maynard for coming out against the standards of officiating.Its a very long time, if ever , that both the head coach and captain of the club have been so publicly critical of the officials sanctioned by the rfu.The spectators who were at the game and paid no small sum of money im sure felt completely dumbfounded , frustrated and bewildered by the decisions and interpretations of the officials.

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: rustyroof (IP Logged)
Date: 13/10/2011 13:02

that's a pathetic whinge. especially the bit suggesting the ref might have been biased because of the club he used to play for.

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Nige H (IP Logged)
Date: 15/10/2011 09:58

perhaps jamie is just looking to a logical explanation to the ref's several poor perfomances whilst he has reffed cov games?

I for one have no idea where he got the added time at the end of the game.

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: OldNick (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2011 12:24

Quote:
Nige H
I for one have no idea where he got the added time at the end of the game.

As stated previously, once 40 mintues has been played, the game continues until the ball goes legally dead. Cambridge kept the ball alive, apart from at the offence by Myring, at which point they were entitled to restart. Once 40 mintues playing time has finished he is not counting or adding time.

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Tim Smith (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2011 12:33

Presumably as Jamie Miller is the club captain, his views are also those of the club itself? It would be stange for him to be expressing anything other than the official line on such controversial matters. Does this mean the club has itself expressed concern officially using the appropriate channels?

Whilst his article was interesting and thought-provoking, I'm not altogether sure they should be voiced in such a public way - isn't that better left to the message board. I'm not sure the powers-that-be will take too kindly to such public pontificating, however true his words might be...

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: covmick1/Michael Carter (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2011 13:06

Quote:
Tim Smith
Presumably as Jamie Miller is the club captain, his views are also those of the club itself? It would be stange for him to be expressing anything other than the official line on such controversial matters. Does this mean the club has itself expressed concern officially using the appropriate channels?
Whilst his article was interesting and thought-provoking, I'm not altogether sure they should be voiced in such a public way - isn't that better left to the message board. I'm not sure the powers-that-be will take too kindly to such public pontificating, however true his words might be...

This very subject cropped up in the journey to Tynedale last Saturday. All four people in the car where in agreement with Tim Smiths post.

covmick/Michael Carter

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Kimbo (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2011 14:05

I take it to be his own opinion.
If the club sees fit to disagree that he should express such an opinion publicly, only then should the club act appropriately, not the members of this forum.
As they do not appear to have taken such a stance, I would take the view that it is time to let the subject drop.

Lighten up guys....

tongue sticking out smiley

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Tim Smith (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2011 15:11

My thoughts exactly, Kimbo

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: OldNick (IP Logged)
Date: 18/10/2011 11:39

Well,

Here's the answer to the question as to who's opinion it was...

(Coventry Telegraoh, 18 Oct 2011)

"Meanwhile Coventry have also suspended skipper Jamie Miller for two weeks and handed the injured club captain a 10 per cent wage fine, suspended until the end of the season.

The move was a response to the back rower publicly criticising the performance of referee Greg McDonald following the Cambridge game.

Coventry claim Miller satisfied their disciplinary panel with his contrition and undertaking not to do it again. The RFU have told Coventry they now consider the matter closed.


So, a punishment from the club in response for a slap from the RFU.

Read More [www.coventrytelegraph.net]

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Kimbo (IP Logged)
Date: 18/10/2011 14:56

Well well!

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: Nige H (IP Logged)
Date: 18/10/2011 21:22

I think hes unlucky and a bit of a scape goat to be honest. And im basing that on PM's comments on the ref immediatly aired after the game on CWR.

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: zinzanh (IP Logged)
Date: 18/10/2011 21:33

Lets move on, big match on saturday. c'mon cov

Re: Jamie Miller's column.
Posted by: eric richardson (IP Logged)
Date: 19/10/2011 08:06

"Every Match Is A Big Match"

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