GHK 2nd xv and the Missing Referees. An intimate
>and heart rending extract from a frustrated
>player.
>
>
>Dear Diary,
>
>I can't say I was looking forward to going to
>Stepps, but, compared to the alternatives it did
>have some appeal. For the West of Scotland Rugby
>Referees’ Society not to allocate the 2nd XV a
>referee for one week is unfortunate. For two
>weeks it is careless. For three weeks out of
>four, well, Oscar didn't write about that, but I
>think it's extremely poor. I hope someone with
>influence speaks to the referee development
>officer about it.
>
>
>
>Then again, if the students hadn't dispersed
>their team before discovering we have a referee
>on tap then things would have been different.
>
>
>
>Anyway returning to the problem at hand, some
>say the referee shortage is more acute because
>the Society is failing to retain their older
>referees, favouring development of their younger
>models who show promise. All very well, but is
>this another case of developing the top of the
>pyramid while the base sinks into the shifting
>sands? Others think the recently introduced web
>allocation system makes it too easy for referees
>to discard fixtures they don't fancy. Why travel
>too far, or to meet some bunch of ingrates, when
>all you have to do to drop the fixture is press
>a button. In the old days you had to personally
>telephone a charming but persuasive retired
>public school rector! All this and the Heineken
>Cup hasn’t even started! I wonder where it will
>all end
>
>On the bright side apparently that nice young
>chap Mr Little is looking for a game - now
>wouldn't his experience bring something to the
>hard-working and promising squad? Let's hope
>he's available for the fixture next week, at
>home against Newton Stewart. All supporters,
>parents and girl friends welcome.
>
>
>
>Played 4 won 3.
>

This article was posted on 10-Oct-2005, 08:57 by Hugh Barrow.