LACK of adequate video evidence has thwarted Wingham's bid to have two players cited following last Sunday's spiteful Group Three Rugby League game against Old Bar at Old Bar.
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"We don't have a decent shot of the incident on video so that's why we didn't go ahead with the citing,'' Wingham coach Stu Baker said yesterday.
"But the evidence is on Ben Welsh's face.''
Welsh is out indefinitely after sustaining four facial fractures.
It's understood Wingham wanted to cite Tom Alchin and Eric Grant, two of the three players sin binned by referee Darren Hooper in the second half of the contest.
The matter has Baker seething.
He also took exception to comments made by Old Bar captain-coach Danny Russell in the Times this week. Russell, when interviewed just after the match, questioned the decision by Hooper to send three of his players to the sin bin at the one time. While they were sidelined Wingham scored two tries to take a stranglehold on the match.
The Tigers eventually won 42-34 to move to outright third on the ladder.
Russell labelled the decision as 'disgraceful.'
However, Baker takes another view.
"What was disgraceful is that he (Hooper) didn't send two of them off for the game,'' Baker said.
"They'd be facing lengthy suspensions if that had happened. As it is we've lost one of our best and most experienced forwards - yet those players are free to play this weekend.''
Wingham will host unbeaten competition leaders Macleay Valley tomorrow. The Tigers will be without Welsh and fellow front rower Logan Polklington, who has gone home to New Zealand for family reasons.
However, they'll welcome back former NRL player Matt Bartlett.
All four Group Three games will be played tomorrow.
In the other matches Taree City and Port Macquarie meet at the Jack Neal Oval while Wauchope and Old Bar clash at Wauchope. Port City will be looking for their first win of the year against Forster-Tuncurry at Port Macquarie.
Meanwhile Old Bar's Kurtis Dark will join fellow NSW under 16s players in camp this weekend as the Blues prepare for the clash against Queensland at Suncopr Stadium next Wednesday before the opening State of Origin side.
Dark has been named at lock. He played for Newcastle Knights' Australian champion under 16 team this year but will return to the Pirates after his representative commitments are finalised.