17/03/2008 10:56

Christchurch - Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett has been cleared of a citing for an alleged dangerous tackle in the Super 14 match against the Cheetahs in Christchurch.

Crockett was cited for the tackle on Cheetahs prop Ronnie Uys in the ninth minute of the match.

He appeared before Sanzar judicial officer Nick Davidson QC at the New Zealand Rugby Union offices in Wellington on Monday.

Crockett was represented by legal representative Simon Porter.

At the hearing Davidson viewed video footage of the incident and heard evidence from Crockett and submissions from Porter.

The evidence showed Crockett made contact with Uys around the upper body while another Crusaders player tackled him around the legs.

Crockett's action, which was found to involve use of the arms, contributed to Uys being bent backwards and to fall awkwardly.

He was treated by medical staff at the time but was able to continue playing. Crockett explained that he had checked and not gone through with the intended tackle when he realised that Uys had passed the ball, and this was borne out on the evidence.

The finding was that Crockett did make principal contact with his right shoulder to the left chest area of Uys, but at the same time made contact with his right arm to the player's left elbow. His left arm reached out and made contact with the player's chest area.

The referee reported and gave evidence that he saw the incident and concluded that it was a legitimate tackle. The regulations require that the referee's reasons should stand unless the judicial officer is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that he was wrong. In this case, that test was applied and the citing was not upheld.