Accidental offside

[Dickie E]

What would you do in this situation.

Blue wins scrum & SH passes ball to #10 for a clearance kick.
The kick is woeful and goes low and hard to hit Blue #8 on backside who is only just untangling himself from the scrum.
Canny Blue SH (who was retiring) picks up ball and scoots off down field.

1. Scrum to Red for Blue #8 accidental offside, or
2. Penalty to Red for Blue SH offside

 

[smeagol]

I'm inclined to go 1. There's nothing there the #8 could have done to prevent being offside.

 

[Dickie E]

I'm inclined to go 1. There's nothing there the #8 could have done to prevent being offside.

Ok but are you happy with the action of the SH?

 

[didds]

I suspect the answer here is "manage it" ie "sell it".

I think either is a valid call.

 

[Harry]

Could the ref give options ? Scrum here or penalty there

 

[Decorily]

Could the ref give options ? Scrum here or penalty there

Could.....but.

 

[Decorily]

1 sounds good for me.

 

[tim White]

The first offence was material because the same team gained an advantage from it, but so was the second offence because the 9 knew he was in an offside position from the kick.
Normally I'd go first offence, but in this case the cynical offside play trumps that and so PK it is- at the position where the 9 played the ball first.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

Level of the game?

How much time did the 9 have? Ie was it cynical or a reaction?

Same "offence" could easily be:

Old Shittonians V!!! V Local Brewery Captains Select = Scrum: Accidental boys.

Division one game PK the 9.


Context and sell your call.

 

[Jz558]

I think the accidental offside is the most equitable here. For me the 9 is entitled to play to the whistle, particularly if he is behind the 8 and was retreating but as Marc says the level of the game is important.

 

[Harry]

It seems harsh to me to call the 9s actions as cynical. As an Old Twattbaggian the ball coming back to me would feel natural, so I would catch it and run. Working out that I'm actually offside would be a thought process and take a little time.

 

[thepercy]

I think it matters if the SH was in front of or behind the #8 when he played the ball.

 

[Dickie E]

I think it matters if the SH was in front of or behind the #8 when he played the ball.

Why so?

 

[thepercy]

He wasn't in front of a teammate who last played the ball?

 

[Dickie E]

He wasn't in front of a teammate who last played the ball?

The last team mate who INTENTIONALLY played the ball was the kicker