John Kendal didn't think twice when asked if he would referee the Tui Cup premier division rugby match between Pioneer and Martinborough at the Jeans St grounds in Masterton on Saturday.
Kendal, a former Pioneer player who captained Wairarapa-Bush during his 26 appearances for the union in the late 1990s and refereed here before moving to Wellington and on to Palmerston North, received a telephone call from Martinborough coach James Bruce on Friday night.
Bruce was wondering whether Kendal could fill a void made by a decision by the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Referees' Association not to appoint any referees for matches at Jeans St because of safety concerns and he was happy to oblige, even though he hadn't officially refereed for some four or five years.
Fortunately, however, the now Palmerston North Boys High teacher and coach of the Manawatu women's NPC team had the necessary qualifications to do the job and his agreement meant any chance of the game being called off was averted.
"James pointed out Martinborough had won by default the previous weekend and didn't really want to go another Saturday without a game," Kendal said.
