Hawke's Bay United

How is spitting worse than punching

The ref probably didn't see the note passing and communication as it happened while play was going on - he didn't notice when Angell shouted out that he had got the wrong number when Matsumoto was subbed (originally number 3 was raised but it was meant to be number 2)

so it won't have been in the report, so he can't get punished for it

He was also lucky the camera was out of the rain on the balcony with no sound and not in it usual position above the benches with sound.

As per Gary Ogilvie, why are teams persisting with Cory Chettleburgh? He cries that he was suspended for 7 games in the press for stuff that was not his fault. Whose fault is it this time? Whose fault was it when he smacked a ref when he was playing for Manawatu? 

Would it be fair to say that if HBU had a chance of making the playoffs, both Brett and Cory have effectively killed that? Wonder how the rest of the players feel about 2 of their more important pieces writing the season off for the whole team with their behaviour.

How can it not be taken into account when it is and was blatantly obvious that it happened. There is video footage and the referee went over and told him to stop doing it!

Passing over the fact that Brett is one of the reasons they are in with a chance in the first place.  Could say he has wiped out any good work he has done possibly.

Understand the four games for abuse of a match official but he should be seeing something for giving instructions/making subs after being sent, unless that is what the $1000 fine is for as well. But then NZ Football should have made that clear he is being fined for that too.

because anyone who spits at someone else deserves to be punched, by my reckoning, 6 punches for every spit should do it

good punishments NZF

the game has to be tidied up further however. the constant foul language and harassment of referees needs to go. i don't want my kids thinking that this is how you play sport and therefore i no longer attend

I cannot understand why coaches  are allowed to protest and rave on to the fourth officials. The poor buggers have to put up with all sorts of crap.

They don't have to put up with all sorts of crap at all.   They have the ability to have action taken against the offender.   The fact that most decide not to is the cause of most of our problems.   If some of them started to take a hard line - the "correct" line in my opinion - you would find that the problem would go away.   It's time for our officials to stand up and be counted.   If they keep doing what they are doing (nothing) then nothing will change and we will be discussing the same problem for ever.

another top piece of journalism from Anendra Singh to promote the game. No wonder he has "antagonism"  towards media when he writes shark like this! good use of google Anendra you have excelled yourself again... 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/n...

Actually that is by far the best piece I've ever read from Anendra, who is usually a ridiculous caricature of a sports journalist. He's completely spot on here though.

seemed unnecessarily brutal to me. Brought some things up that weren't particularly relevant. 

Nice work from Singh. I always appreciate it when journalists make the effort to write for the benefit of readers, rather than players, coaches, or administrators. (Too often in provincial centres the media defaults to become the PR arm of the clubs, with a host of soft-belly copy.) 

Good to see him persistent enough to get on-the-record comments from HBU, woven in alongside his own narrative as a sports reporter, so that we can make up our own minds on the merits of the case.

Ha, was just thinking, 30 years ago we would have excused Angell as "a character". ("the game needs characters" etc).

needs more Fallon.

The irrelevant anecdotes that make up the first eight pars, detailing a sad moment in Angell's career, with no segue to his actual point aren't bizarre? (if they detailed a history of bad behaviour, the issue at hand, they'd make sense)

And wtf is 'Thirsty Whale-sponsored side' about? Same way of bringing up the sponsor (an affront to any writer with taste) appears in the report of the Tasman game, where Cory Chettleburgh is referred to as a 'homeboy' - again, wtf.

Tasman really should protest this result.

Relevant SS Premiership regs say

"Under no circumstance may any suspended Player or Official occupy a position, in any capacity, in or in the vicinity of the player’s entrance, substitute’s bench, Technical Area or playing arena."

protest based on a zany reporters article?

A question for 2nd Best

What capacity were Cory and Brett in at the game.   Answer - spectators

Also, before any protest can be even thought of, what is the "vicinity of the playing arena".   Is it in fact the grandstand, the street the stadium is on, or the immediate area around the playing pitch.

In my opinion, a pretty slackly written regulation, if in fact it is as reported.

Not really a spectator if he is conversing with the coach (assuming that is true). 

Here is the A-league rules for reference

Central Football is now run 'operationally' by Darren Mason, with support by Ops Managers in the various regional centres 

Here is the rule for the SSP.

5.13 Under no circumstance may any suspended Player or Official occupy a position, in any capacity, in or in the vicinity of the player’s entrance, substitute’s bench, Technical Area or playing arena.

Job well done HB, enjoy the well deserved after match drinks!

9 out of 12 is not bad!!! 

With the squad they had this weekend that is a massive result for them. To think that they are without the 3 imports who left and you would imagine at the start of the session would be pretty key to their success, plus to be without Chettleburgh and Milne as well as the young Japanese guy who hasn't been available for the last 3 or 4 game. That is half a starting line up. 

I hope the young lad Willox is being noticed only 18 or 19 and playing pretty important role in middle of park week in and week out.  

Angell got them humming by sounds of it 

No didn't see the team card, but HBU hardly have a team of strength themselves as stated above. I think 4 weeks ago there were a few on here that wrote them off for the season.

I did see the team card and there were two more pros in the team than the one fielded in the game against Auckland City that didn't end in a 7 goal collapse. I get it, it was not weenix's best game but it wasn't HB's either and right now HB seam to be one of the teams with all the momentum. 

Congratulations Hawkes Bay, strong finish to the regular season. Would love to know their player budget vs the other teams in the playoffs. Massive effort on limited resources.

I put it down to their amazing coach.

Something in the water.

I think the something in the water in Napier just gave people the sharks

"Going all defensive and showing the inclusiveness of HB residents"

The dodgy water was in Hastings and Havelock North.  

Good to see the HB today's comprehensive coverage (no existent) of HBU run up to the play offs and there build up towards. Another great job by their award winning scribe... 

That is disappointing.  Id like it if they beat Auckland.  Currently 0-0 at halftime.

Didn't HBU ban players from talking to the local paper. Or did I make that up.

Whether that is true or not, it is news and I believe newspapers are there to report news whether the reporter likes the coach or not.

However congratulations on another season where you have exceeded expectations. Not the end you were hoping for, but a job well done.