A bizarre set of circumstances and an almost-comical Television Match Official decision has led to what has been dubbed rugby’s first “own try” in Thursday’s National Rugby Championship match between the Sydney Stars and North Harbour Rays in Australia.
The incident was in the first half of the match, with the Stars on attack near the Rays’ try-line.
As video replays show, while on defence, Rays prop Mitch Lewis steals the ball and plants it back over his own try-line for his team-mates to secure possession.
Unsighted to what happened, referee Ian Smith called on television match official Michael Blair to adjudicate. Yet while it is clear that Lewis had carried the ball back, and therefore a five-metre scrum should have been awarded, Blair reported that a try should be awarded.
It was a decision that left players, spectators and commentators baffled, with Blair seemingly confusing Lewis for a Sydney Stars player as the jerseys of both teams have yellow sleeves.
Nevertheless, it was a galling error from the TMO, with the world’s most-capped Test referee, Jonathan Kaplan, who retired at the end of last year, suggesting it was the worst decision he’d ever seen.
“I have mentioned that the interaction between the TMO and referees this year (particularly in Super Rugby) has been appallingly bad, with some very poor outcomes. We are talking the top tier of world provincial rugby and we still have officials who are incapable of getting it right,” Kaplan wrote on his website Rate the Ref.
“Once again, we have an incident which has proved beyond any doubt that this needs urgent attention. It is by far the worst (decision) I have seen in any competition.”
After the try was awarded, Fox Sports commentators Sean Maloney – barely able to contain his bemusement – summed up what everyone was thinking. “I’m not entirely sure what happened there, but I think Mitch Lewis has scored a try for the Stars. What is going on? He can’t believe it… are you kidding me?”
The Stars won the match 49-40.