ONERAHI U-13 REF DOWNS WHISTLE AT 2.55PM, CITES "SCHOOL PICKUP, MATE"
Game abandoned at 14-all. Sideline dad still yelling about a forward pass twenty minutes later.
An under-13 rugby match at the Onerahi Domain was abandoned on Wednesday after the volunteer ref looked at his watch, blew time, and walked off to collect his kids from Onerahi Primary. Thirty children were left standing in the drizzle.
The ref, local sparky Daryl Henare, had been doing the club a favour after the rostered ref pulled out that morning. Henare said he'd told both coaches before kick-off he had a hard out at quarter to three. "Said it twice. Said it to the bloke doing the sausages. Nobody listened."
A visiting sideline dad, who gave his name only as Macca, was less philosophical. "He's blown it up at 14-all. Fourteen-fucking-all. My boy was about to score. Ref's jogged off like he's late for a flight. Tosser." Told Henare was an unpaid volunteer, Macca said: "Don't care. Do the job."
Onerahi coach Wiremu said it got worse in the carpark. "Daryl's got two kids at the school gate by themselves and this munter's banging on his ute window about phase play. Read the room, bro."
A club committee member said they were reviewing the ref roster and had asked parents to "maybe consider doing one themselves before they open their mouths." Three parents have since blocked her on Facebook.
Henare picked his kids up at 3.02pm. The game's been recorded as a draw. Macca, per multiple sources, is still going.
The ref, local sparky Daryl Henare, had been doing the club a favour after the rostered ref pulled out that morning. Henare said he'd told both coaches before kick-off he had a hard out at quarter to three. "Said it twice. Said it to the bloke doing the sausages. Nobody listened."
A visiting sideline dad, who gave his name only as Macca, was less philosophical. "He's blown it up at 14-all. Fourteen-fucking-all. My boy was about to score. Ref's jogged off like he's late for a flight. Tosser." Told Henare was an unpaid volunteer, Macca said: "Don't care. Do the job."
Onerahi coach Wiremu said it got worse in the carpark. "Daryl's got two kids at the school gate by themselves and this munter's banging on his ute window about phase play. Read the room, bro."
A club committee member said they were reviewing the ref roster and had asked parents to "maybe consider doing one themselves before they open their mouths." Three parents have since blocked her on Facebook.
Henare picked his kids up at 3.02pm. The game's been recorded as a draw. Macca, per multiple sources, is still going.