Praise for referee

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 30

Praise for referee

From JOHN BROOKS Widespread praise was received by the Canterbury referee, Mr Tom Doocey, for the manner in which he controlled the rugby match between France and Wellington on Saturday. Mr Doocey’s only test appointment was at the same ground. Athletic Park, when New Zealand played Ireland in 1976, and he celebrated his return with a fine display which satisfied both sides.

The Wellington coach, Mr

lan Upston, and a former test referee, Mr Peter McDavitt, both said the referee’s firm control and decisiveness had contributed to an excellent game of rugby.

And the French manager, Mr Yves Noe, said “Monsier Doo-cee’s” performance had made him very pleased.

After the bitterness and brawling of the Waikato match a week earlier, the Wellington game came as a pleasant change. The only incident occurred when a French flanker, Jean-Luc Joinel, butted a rival forward on joining a

maul — a foolish action which quickly drew a. penalty and a lecture from Mr Doocey. Mr John West, the Irish referee who will control both test matches between the All Blacks and the French, was deprived of a chance of having a pipeopener. He was to referee the Athletic Park curtainraiser between Nelson Bays and Wellington B.

But the Nelson side was grounded across Cook Strait because bad weather had closed both Nelson and Blenheim airports.