I know what the potentiasl issues are with this fixture and if i didn't think i was up to it i wouldn't have taken it, as it happens I was asked if i wanted it, two sides i've reffed before, home side were L6 last year (reffed them twice last season), but got relegated, away team been L7 for a number of seasons and i've reffed them numerous times. I'm hoping to be formally L6 by Xmas. From a POV of a senior ref in the society, i guess i must be starting to fall in that bracket :wink:
Good luck with it. Your confidence about managing it doesn't however change the simple situation that you are a level 7 referee (regardless of where you think you'll be at Xmas, or how many level 6 games you have done) and that I don't think this is a level 7 fixture, or an appropriate level 6 for a 7 to take on.
If you weren't involved at all, and this was in a completely different county, and someone on here simply described the fixture and the history and said 'who should we appoint?' What would you choose?
Options;
1) Ask RFU / group for a TO3
2) Appoint society TO3
3) Get an in county level 6 with club TJs
4) Get an in county <5 ref with club TJs
5) Get an in county level 7 to do it
Is your answer honestly 5? You can dislike my posts all you like but is that really your answer?
Now let's imagine you are at the RFU hearing into the huge fight which broke up between 30 players, 10 subs/coaches and about 50 spectators (many of whom were friends/family of incarcerated ex player and had been drinking all day) that required the police to break up and let to both clubs being finned / banned and several arrests. Are you still happy with your decision above?
If WB did the game a fight could still break out. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't anticipate issues, grade games and appoint the best person you can.
