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New England have been successful in their appeal of a ruling against John Poland resulting from his send-off against the LA Giltinis last weekend. The scrumhalf was issued a red card by referee Derek Summers for accidentally kicking the head of Adam Ashe when the LA No8 dove on a lose ball at the same time Poland was attempting to ‘fly-hack’ the ball ahead.
At his initial hearing Poland received an 8 week suspension which was then reduced to 4 weeks. The Free Jacks appealed the decision, arguing that the red card decision did not take into account mitigating circumstances, namely that the vertical height of Ashe had changed prior to being struck by Poland’s boot.
The appeal officer heard testimony from Summers that in a subsequent video review of the incident the referee agreed that mitigation should have been applied, and thus the act did not warrant a red card. Poland has therefore been cleared of suspension and is free to play for New England in their match against the Houston SaberCats this weekend.
