Leatherbarrow should be stood down from reffing tomorrow. He's got NW Crusaders v Whitehaven, a must-win game for both teams. Can see some more fireworks there, he and his touch judges have got to get a grip from the start.

If he had been a coward he wouldn't have been on the pitch. Are you going to have a go?

He's not a coward no
He got no help from the ypung lad on the side where it all kicks off
He didn't stop it when field house did Riddy which was when he lost control if he had given him ten mins with a warnig of the next one will be red, I don't this have happened

There are various comments about , 'watched it again', 'had another look', 'watched it a few times', etc. The ref can't do any of those!! When someone is hit late on most occasions the referee won't see it. That is where his minders come into it, watching his back; the ref will be watching the ball not where it has been but where it is, he can assume something has happened when the crowd shouts but he can't act on it. His TJs, who are supposed to be looking where the ball has been, should see things like the late hit on Barlow because that is what they are there for (watching the ref's back), if they see it and don't report it they should be taken off the list. Leatherbarrow had a poor game but was left totally isolated by his TJs who should be ashamed of their performances.

None of the above happens in most amateur games the ref is on his own and expects to be shot at.

In this instance the touch judge seemed unwilling to come on to the field despite the fact that he must have clearly seen what had happened. The Leigh players were looking at him waiting for him to do something. When he seemed not to be doing so they, understandably took matters into their own hands. Decisive action from the TJ would probably have prevented the brawl.

What puzzled me was that the ref gave the whole Halifax team the "circular arm" warning before that (first time I've seen it given for a while) but then failed to act upon it.

He told them it was a team warning

Brian, what makes you think that the touch judge must have "clearly seen what had happened"?

It happened right in front of me, I was virtually as near to the incident as he was and I did not see it, I was following the ball.

That's the point Pat, you along with most in the crowd and the ref were watching the ball; the TJ is paid not to watch the ball in that situation.

I have to say also that I didn't see the actual incident.

It's funny that when Sam Barlow punched Potts at the shay you all stuck up for Sam say he did nothing wrong but know he got owned by manning it's different. Manning was stupid to going running in again but nobody knows what got said.

Whilst not condoning any of Sam Barlow's alleged misdemeanours, I would suggest that 'owned' is not the correct verb to apply to the Manning incident. How about 'hospitalised'?

What a pathetic comment 'owned'.... I know which player I'd prefer to have in my side and we have.

Sam was sporting a massive shiner today

Hi Pat

You are right of course (and I didn't see it either: I just saw Haggerty waiting/pleading with him to do something) but surely that's what TJ's are there for. I should have thought that they and the refs work together (or are supposed to) so if the ref watches the ball the TJ's job is to watch something else.