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New Zealand high performance referee coach Colin Hawke has questioned the performance of referee Paul Marks in the Hurricanes and Sharks Super 14 rugby game on Saturday.
Hawke said he was surprised the Australian did not use all the aids available to him in the controversial ending to the Wellington game, which ended in a 13-13 draw in Wellington.
The Hurricanes pleaded for a penalty try after centre Conrad Smith was taken out off the ball by Sharks second five-eighth Bradley Barritt while chasing a loose ball in the dead ball area during the final play of the match.
It also appeared the loose ball was then pounced on by Hurricanes replacement forward Thomas Waldrom.
Marks ruled the ball had been knocked on when replays showed no Hurricanes player had touched it, then blew for fulltime.
Hawkes told Radio Sport he felt Marks should have reviewed video evidence of the whole incident, before ending the game.
"I'm very surprised the match officials didn't go upstairs to the TMO who probably would have an interesting time reviewing the whole thing - it's very unfortunate really," Hawke said today.
" Certainly it's the New Zealand view that if there is any doubt, a referee should go up to the TMO.
"It looked to me like he made the cardinal error of not taking the time out and just using what aid you have in that situation which was a crunch one.
"The rule for a referee is to take a bit of time out and go through the check list which in this case would have been to go first to the assistant referee, and if he couldn't help, you could certainly go upstairs."
- NZPA
