Dalton hits out
From DON CAMERON
Andy Dalton, the injured Cavaliers rugby captain, was sharply critical of the Welsh referee, Ken Rowlands, after the Springboks won, 24-10, at Ellis Park yesterday and took the series, 3-1. Speaking to over 1000 people at an after-match cocktail party, Dalton said that in ten years or so of international rugby he had never publicly criticised the referee.
“I have always demanded honesty from a referee but when I think what our guys have gone through to get here — that may be irrelevant — we got less than that from the referee today.
“I won’t blame the South Africans for calling my remarks sour grapes,” said Dalton, “but I mean that very sincerely.”
“The announcement at half-time of Mr Rowlands’ retirement from refereeing was welcomed by us.” There were allegations that Mr Rowlands had been jostled by a Cavaliers player when the match ended, but Mr Rowlands denied that. However, he did have a conversation with Murray Mexted which continued on into the Cavaliers dressing room.
Both Dalton and the Cavaliers manager, lan Kirkpatrick, were critical that they had not been offered a panel of referees to choose from for the four matches against the Springboks.
“Some of the referee’s decisions were quite incredible, and I was disturbed by some of his interpretations,” said Mr Kirkpatrick. To the question whether
he thought Mr Rowlands had been pro-South Africa in all four tests, Mr Kirkpatrick said he was not sure about the first three — “But he was definitely pro-South Africa today.” “It was shades of 1976,” said Mr Kirkpatrick, referring to the All Blacks’ 1-3 loss to the Springboks in South Africa, and especially the 14-15 loss in the fourth test when the All Blacks were not awarded a penalty try. Afterwards, Mr Rowlands, who had listened to Dalton’s speech, said he was not disturbed.
“If I had the match over again I would referee it again just as I did today.”
Asked how he regarded Dalton’s criticism, Mr Rowlands said: “That is just the disappointment coming through.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, 2 June 1986, Page 24
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342Dalton hits out Press, 2 June 1986, Page 24
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