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The Voice From the Stands

Monday 28th April 2008

Easy life: It has not been too hard for Ashton in National League One

The job of the referee, and to some extent that of a referee's assistant, is a treacherous one at best - the simple fact is you are never right.

I can, and do, at times feel for the referee, after all you have thirty players, umpteen fans and a smattering of coaching staff constantly in your ear. That said, despite all of these part-time wannabes harping on at you, you would expect a referee of Nigel Owen's calibre to know what warrants a red card.

Yes it was a Heineken Cup semi-final and nobody wants to see such an occasion potentially ruined with a rash red card, but if five punches to the head of an opponent doesn't warrant a red card I don't know what does.

Nick Lloyd may have had a stray hand around his chin strap but that is no excuse to wildly swing a barrage of punches at someone. The touch judge's report could not have been clearer, it clearly fingered Lloyd for his crime, and yet Owens was happy to brandish a yellow.

That's the same punishment as meted out to Rua Tipoki and Census Johnson, both for not rolling away at the ruck. Lloyd knew he was in trouble, as did his team-mates, who swarmed around Owens in a manner Jos� Mourinho would have been impressed with.

There needs to be some consistency when handing down cards and in most sane viewers books five punches to the head, regardless of the situation, warrants a red card. Many tip Owens to become one of the world's top officials, but sadly mistakes such as seen on Sunday will ensure the only thing that gets higher is his voice.

Speaking of greater heights Northampton have marched straight back into the Premiership, not that there was ever any doubt, and in doing so have smashed various records. Yet the one they are all talking about is Chris Ashton's try-scoring record - 39 league tries in 25 games.

Believe me when I tell you it sounds a lot more impressive than it is, and that is coming from a closet Saints fan. Let's not kid ourselves here; National League One is not that challenging when you have a team boasting the likes of Carlos Spencer, Bruce Reihana and Mark Robinson.

Not only that but half the teams you play against comprise of part-time players who work 9-5 during the week. And in Ashton's own words he is 'just on the end of it, that's all'. I dare say the likes of you or I could have scored a good twenty of his efforts, the job of catching the ball being the hardest part of his scores.

Had it not been for his team-mates he would not have even got the record. Needing six tries in the final game of the season he was gifted all but one of them by players who could have scored themselves. That sort of charity will be gone next season when tries are a lot harder to come by.

So let's not get carried away just yet and rather let's see how he goes in the Guinness Premiership before we pass judgement and hail him as England's next great wing. There he will come up against some world class players, he wont be afforded as much time and space and he definitely wont have the luxury of finishing moves off.

The likelihood is Northampton will struggle next season, as most clubs do upon winning promotion, and Ashton's tackle count is set to emulate his try count. There is no doubting the former Rugby League man has potential but he has a long way to go yet.

What do you make of it all?

By Marcus Leach