Western Province loose forwards Jebb Sinclair and Tyrone Holmes have almost completely escaped further punishment for the punches they threw at Kings Park on Saturday.
rugby365
Both players were shown reds cards after punching Sharks players in their Currie Cup encounter which was played in wet conditions in Durban, but Sinclair has escaped suspension completely whilst Holmes will miss just one week.
Canadian international Sinclair will be available for selection against Griquas this weekend after the judicial officer Peter Ingwersen found that there were mitigating circumstances in his situation as he had been provoked by Sharks captain Jean Deysel who was shown a yellow card.
Holmes was not as lucky and will miss the clash with Griquas, but will be available from next week.
Ingwersen chaired both hearings, reviewing video footage and evidence and representations from both players.
He explained that the sending off of Sinclair was deemed to be sufficient sanction when all factors were considered.
He said: “Sinclair was severely provoked in that he was struck five times by his opponent with an open hand before he retaliated.
“The offence was classified as a low end contravention which carries a two week suspension as sanction unless compelling on-field and/or off-field mitigating features were found.
“The DC found such mitigating features to exist in this case and the sending off was considered to be sufficient sanction. Sinclair is free to continue playing,” added the judicial officer.
Ingwersen said that although Holmes was also provoked, he was not attacked in the same manner as Sinclair and will therefore be sidelined for a week.
He said: “Holmes was severely provoked but as he was never subjected to a physical attack as in the case of Sinclair.
“His retaliation rendered him culpable. The offence was classified as being at the low end of the scale. This proposes a two week sanction.
“The player was provoked but not to the degree that it warranted his actions and the mitigating circumstances are not such that no further sanction should be contemplated. Holmes was therefore suspended for one week, which means that he will not be permitted to play this coming Saturday,” added Ingwersen.
Peter Ingwersen MUST be a Canadian born WP supporter!
Eishhhh
This is why I disagree with these hearings. There should be automatic bans.
2 @ Loosehead:
Hi Loosehead these hearings take time and cost money so maybe it would be quicker to hand out automatic bans ala kangaroo court style BUT I think if anything this case show exactly why there SHOULD be hearings. I am with you that boxing should not be part of the sport but if your wish came true then Sinclair would have been slapped with a ban (I guess of a predetermined time) regardless of what happened to him in the run up to this. So this hearing highlighted the fact that he was “physically attacked” first, not once but 5 times with the open hand. Am surprised that Deysel wasn’t pulled up for this too or is it ok to slap someone? I guess thats where the match commisioner slipped up Deysel should have been sited as well as if his actions were considered in the hearing to have been bad enough to ‘justify’ the retaliation he got then surely he deserves a ban of sorts as well because he only got a yellow card in the game and could carry on after his 10 minutes were served whereas the others were sent off for the rest of it.
3 @ JanMurrayBok: automatic ban, with the right to appeal. And no fukken lawyers. Only Rugby Men.
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