Rugby: North Harbour out of semifinals after points deducted

1.20pm

North Harbour have lost four NPC rugby points following an appeal by Wellington that they fielded an ineligible player.

A New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) appeal council today allowed only part of Wellington's appeal against a NZRU sub-committee decision to fine North Harbour $7500 for fielding an ineligible player, South African Chad Alcock.

Wellington also wanted the points reversed and have either all or part of the points awarded to them.

Wellington, however were not awarded any points.

The council's decision drops North Harbour out of the running for a semifinal spot.

They had 20 points before the decision and go into tonight's match against Waikato without any hopes of a playoff place.

In addition, their captain Ron Cribb was suspended for six weeks on Wednesday following a stomping incident in another match.

"Given the clear and undisputed findings of the sub-committee that the breach was inadvertent and a result of carelessness without any intention to obtain an unfair advantage, the appeal council did not feel in the circumstances it was appropriate to re-allocate points to WRFU," a statement from the appeal council said today.

Chris Morris (chairman) and former NZRU officials Ron Don and Peter Burke formed the council.

- NZPA

NPC points table