A THIRD-quarter altercation with each other last Saturday has cost Eaglehawk’s Sam Thompson and Gisborne’s Riley Paterson a two-match suspension.
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The pair were reported by central umpire John Norton for striking each other.
Paterson accepted a two-match set penalty, while Thompson challenged the report at the BFNL tribunal.
Norton said he had noticed the two players both jumper punching each other and that once they stopped he saw Thompson strike Paterson with a clenched fist to the face.
Norton said Paterson then retaliated and also struck Thompson with a clenched fist to the face.
Paterson also gave evidence that he retaliated after Thompson threw the first punch.
However, Thompson denied striking Paterson, saying he held his jumper at all times throughout the 10 to 15 second incident.
But the BFNL tribunal panel found Thompson guilty of the report and imposed the same two-match penalty on him as Paterson.
Meanwhile, Kangaroo Flat forward Cameron Rinaldi is free to play against his former side, Maryborough, this Saturday.
Rinaldi was reported for striking Sandhurst’s Nick Stagg in the second quarter last week, but was cleared.
Field umpire Scott Baxter said he saw Rinaldi strike Stagg with a clenched fist to the left side of Stagg’s face.
Stagg in his evidence by phone said he saw a swinging action, but there was no contact made, while Rinaldi said there was no clenched fist or strike and that while tackling he fell over on top of Stagg while appealing for a holding the ball free kick.
And, Mitiamo’s Ben Bacon accepted a two-match set penalty for engaging in rough conduct against Pyramid Hill’s Bradley Driscoll.