Another heated junior rugby spat between parents

Both clubs are talking to their players after the under-13 game was called off. Photo / Thinkstock

A ''scrappy'' under-13 rugby game was ended early amid ugly scenes punctuated by a heated standoff between supporters after the match.

A ''heated exchange'' between supporters of Kaikorai and Taieri's under-13 teams followed a curtailed game littered with indiscipline at Bishopscourt at the weekend.

''The entire game went against what children's sport is meant to be,'' Dunedin Junior Metropolitan Rugby chairwoman Donna Wingham said yesterday.

She confirmed the board was investigating the match, but kept details of the incidents light.

''There was some pretty heated discussion afterwards and there was some on-field stuff that went on,'' she said.

A ''young inexperienced referee'' was thrown into the middle of the ''perfect storm''.

''It's the top two teams in the grade and they are both super competitive,'' she said.

''They were pushing the envelope.''

The referee managed the game as best he could ''considering the circumstances'', but some parents were seething post-match.

''I don't think it happened in front of the children but it's still not OK,'' she said.

''The saddest part of it is that it's children's sport.''

Discipline had improved in recent years and the incident was an ''unusual thing'', she said.

''It's not a common occurrence.

''Both the clubs are taking it seriously; both clubs are talking to their players; both clubs recognise it as a regrettable incident.''

What penalties - if any - were imposed would be decided once the investigation was complete.

Neither club's junior presidents wished to make any comment about the matter.

A Dunedin police spokesman said police did not attend the fracas, but would investigate any matters brought to their attention by the rugby board or members of the public.

Wingham offered some advice to supporters of all teams.

''It's about the kids,'' she said.

''It's not about you. It's not the World Cup. We want them to enjoy it, so take a chill pill and calm down.''

- Otago Daily Times