Tribunal to decide Karaitiana's grand final fate

Masterton Red Star could be without the services of arguably their most influential player, first-five Byron Karaitiana, in their Wairarapa-Bush premier-division grand final rugby match with Carterton at Memorial Park on Saturday.
Karaitiana was yellow carded by referee Andrew Springer in the closing stages of his side's semifinal with Eketahuna last Saturday for an offence seen as serious enough by Springer for him to not only sin bin Karaitiana, but to award Eketahuna a penalty try.
It was a decision that could have a major impact on Masterton Red Star's chances of successfully defending their premier division title, as with Karaitiana having twice been yellow carded earlier in the season, he was automatically required to front the WBRFU judiciary, something that will happen tonight.
WBRFU chief executive officer Phil Taylor said yesterday that players receiving their second yellow cards received a communication from the union, informing them that a third would result in them going through the judicial process. ''It should be no surprise for them, they know exactly what the story is,'' he said.
Taylor noted that no person affiliated to any club in the region would be part of tonight's three-person judicial panel as it was important ''natural justice'' was seen to be served. He said the result of each hearing depended entirely on the evidence put before the panel. ''It would be dangerous to pre-empt anything in that respect.''
Karaitiana was the first choice first-five for Wairarapa-Bush in their Heartland campaign last season and is hot favourite to retain that post in 2010 after some impressive showings at club level, none more so than in his team's semifinal win over Eketahuna, when his astute option taking and accurate goal kicking made him the man of the match.