The Welsh Rugby Union are set to investigate after a lower division match in the Admiral National League was abandoned amid a clash between a player and a supporter.
Home team Sully Sports were leading 5-0 against Hirwaun in Division 5 East Central when the incident occurred just before half-time, resulting in a visiting forward being sent off.
The flashpoint occurred at a lineout, with accounts of what happened varying.
Sully claim the Hirwaun player at the centre of the episode reacted to a comment being made from the crowd and punched a spectator. Hirwaun say the player in question retaliated after being struck first.
Now the WRU are set to assess the episode as part of their hearing into the sending off.
A Sully official said: “The incident happened about a minute before the break. I didn’t really see what went on as I was getting water bottles as it was one minute to half-time. All I could see was a melee of people and their side saying they weren’t prepared to play on.
“I was told was the Hirwaun player was throwing to the lineout, his throw went astray and a spectator turned around and said: 'Well done'. The player apparently said: 'Do you want some?'"
An altercation ensued and the Sully official continued: "We were playing at Barry rugby club as our changing rooms were not ready. We had to use the second team pitch which unfortunately had no ropes or barriers around it, but that was out of our hands.
"Hirwaun then didn’t want to continue playing. They said they felt unsafe and refused to play the second half. The game was then abandoned.
“The referee had no choice because they said they didn’t want to continue because they felt intimidated and threatened, but it didn’t seem much more than normal banter to me.
“We even asked the referee to rescind the red card. Our captain said: ‘Don’t send him off. We just want to play the game.’ But the official said he couldn’t.
“There was no problem afterwards. Players stayed for a drink and food. The WRU want our version of what went on. They have told us that Hirwaun allege that one of our spectators stepped onto the field but the people I have spoken to have a different take on matters.”
No-one from Hirwaun wanted to speak on the record, with the club apparently keen to preserve good relations with Sully. But it is understood they feel a small element in the crowd were overly boisterous on the day and appeared well-refreshed with one or two using offensive language. They also insist their player involved in the flashpoint was merely defending himself.
The call not to play on was made by club officials for fear of matters escalating. The referee’s take on events is likely to be key when the WRU look into the matter.
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