Fortune finally smiles on BOP

1.00pm

When Rua Tipoki's head eventually hit the pillow in his Hamilton home last night, the Bay of Plenty rugby player slept the sleep of a reprieved and intensely relieved man.

The centre was yesterday cleared of a dangerous tackle charge by the New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee after he was cited in the aftermath of Bay of Plenty's 14-58 loss to Taranaki last Saturday.

The committee decided to only censure Tipoki, clearing him to play in Bay of Plenty's Ranfurly Shield defence against Canterbury at Mt Maunganui on Sunday.

However, the trials weren't completely over for Tipoki.

Following the judicial hearing in Wellington, Tipoki's flight home was delayed.

He eventually had to fly back via Auckland, and bus from there to Hamilton, arriving some time after midnight.

"I've hardly slept the last few nights, I kept waking up worrying," Tipoki said.

"It's been a pretty terrible week for us, especially coming off a hiding, but this was a real relief."

For Tipoki, 29, it was also a triumph of sorts.

His troubled rugby past has been well documented and previously as a North Harbour NPC player he fronted twice at judicial hearings and was punished severely.

Bay of Plenty threw him a lifeline this season when he returned from Japan and he's repaid them with outstanding form on the field, and a valuable presence and maturity off it.

The judicial committee found Tipoki had made a dangerous tackle on Taranaki first-five Brock James in the first half, but that no malice was involved.

It also recognised the work Tipoki has done to improve his discipline.

"(The committee) had regard also to the fact that Tipoki had made extensive efforts over the last three years to improve his conduct on the rugby field which had led to two previous appearances before the judicial committee," committee chairman Bruce Squire wrote.

To Tipoki, that was confirmation he is on the right track.

"I'm trying to look at it that way.

"I just realise that I'm not even allowed a shadow of a doubt in any of my play because if there is, it's probably not going to go my way. It has this time but it could have so easily been a disaster."

Bay of Plenty team management have expressed concern Tipoki was even cited in the first place, and prepared a lengthy breakdown of the tackle as supporting evidence.

Technical advisor Kevin Schuler also attended the hearing, and provided invaluable knowledge of tackling technique which supported Tipoki's cause.

The outcome is also a huge boost to the team's fragile midfield stocks, which were decimated because of injuries to Allan Bunting and Jeff Ierome, who broke his leg against Taranaki.

Tipoki is now likely to line up outside second five-eighth Grant McQuoid, who is expected to play despite the death of his newborn baby last weekend.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES