Quote: barham red "I agree, maybe they should say aslong as the ball goes between the legs or something of the like. If a player attempts to tap a penalty and run he would be penalised if he never 'tapped' it properly, making an attempt at 'tapping' wouldn't be deemed adequate in that situation. Playing the ball is the same only to another player therefore he must make contact with foot to ball. The fact it never happens seems to be overlooked.
I've not looked back at every try from this week but going on both the FC game and the KR game nearly every try would be disallowed if the VR went back to the point of PTB.'"
There are a few points here:
1. the video ref must follow the rules to the letter
2. the video ref checks what he asked to check. I'm not sure he was asked to check the ptb - I think it was Phil Clarke who mentioned it during the replay. Was he not just asked to check the obstruction at the ptb and the grounding? As you say, checking ptbs would result in most tries being disallowed (particularly when most are played a yard or so in front of the mark)
3. he used benefit of the doubt for a try for Rovers but not for Cas. In neither try was it absolutely clear that the ball had or had not been grounded. There is a balance here that he seemed to ignore.