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Plea for replay Auckland dumps NSW 21-20 in controversial match
Posted: Saturday April 03, 1999 12:05 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- New South Wales coach Matt Williams called for the introduction of video referees after his side lost 21-20 to Auckland in their Super 12 rugby match at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday. Waratahs flyhalf Christian Warner looked to have scored a fair try for the hosts on 15 minutes but South African official Jonathon Kaplan ruled Nathan Grey knocked on in the lead-up. Video replays showed otherwise and the Blues, leading 3-0 at the time, were able to capitalize immediately. "It was a staggering decision," said Williams. "If you've ever seen anything where there's a case in the last few months to bring in modern technology you just saw it there. We must have the use of technology to decide who wins games and scores points. "It's been in other sports for years and we still have to put up with what is obviously an incorrect decision -- it's cost us the points, and could cost us a semifinal berth and could cost people jobs." Auckland scored two tries to one to extend its winning streak against New South Wales to six games and put the two-time champion back in the frame for a finals berth after an indifferent start. Auckland coach Jed Rowlands felt it was a significant result for his team. "That will give us confidence that we can compete with the best teams -- I think we needed that," Rowlands said. Auckland has two wins a tie and two losses from its five matches. After leading 14-6 at halftime, thanks to a 25th minute try to big Fijian winger Joeli Vidiri and three penalty goals to fullback Adrian Cashmore, Auckland suffered an early fright after the break when the home team bridged the gap with a well-worked try to Warner. From a lineout close to the Blues line, scrumhalf Chris Whitaker made a quick clearance to Warner, who doubled around center Jason Jones-Hughes before outstripping the defense to score in a handy position. Fullback Duncan McRae missed the easy conversion attempt which would have tied the game up. Waratahs winger Matt Dowling made no mistake with a penalty effort eight minutes later to draw the teams level. The Blues regained the initiative soon after when center Craig Innes crashed over between the posts. Like Vidiri's try, Innes' five-pointer came from clever lead-up work from flyhalf Carlos Spencer immediately from a scrum. Cashmore's conversion took Auckland out to 21-14, meaning two further penalties to Dowling weren't quite enough for the Waratahs. Scorers: Auckland 21 (Joeli Vidiri, Craig Innes tries; Adrian Cashmore 3 penalty goals, 1 goal) def. New South Wales 20 (Christian Warner try; Matt Dowling 4 penalty goals, Duncan McRae 1 penalty goal).
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