Bruce Dockary will always be remembered for that 2009 call he made as an assistant referee.
A split decision without the assistance of a television match official saw Dockary incorrectly rule Magpies prop Sona Taumalolo had been forced into touch before scoring a try which would have secured a draw had it been converted in a 27-20 loss to Canterbury at Napiers McLean Park. During the week after the match, Dockary house was bombarded with eggs and family members verbally abused.
The deck of his Havelock North home had to be re-stained and the garage door repainted after the egg attack. Dockary spent three months re-evaluating his future as a referee before deciding to continue. I still get some shit about that call. Fortunately its on good-fun terms, Dockary recalled last night.
One of Hawkes Bay sports genuine good guys, Dockary, 53, will be rewarded for that decision to continue when he becomes what is believed to be the provinces first referee to control 150 premier club games when Clive host Tamatea at Farndon Park on June 14.
"I'm on 148 games at the moment and will do one more premier game and a couple of colts games before then. Being a former Clive player I thought it would be appropriate to bring up the milestone at Farndon Park, Dockary," a former Clive first five-eighth, explained.