Photo: Getty Images Alhambra-Union are winners again. And all it took was tenacity and a closer look at some other team sheets. The Broncos’ 38-10 win over Zingari-Richmond in round 10 of the Dunedin division 1 competition was rescinded for fielding a non-registered player. But the win and the competition points have been reinstated. Alhambra-Union treasurer Geoff Simons said he was happy for the players. ‘‘I think the players just said, look, we were on the field, we won fairly,’’ Simons said. Alhambra-Union were out of contention for the playoffs, so some members of the club felt they should just let the matter go. ‘‘But there were some [others] in the club who thought this was just so totally unfair, that the punishment just didn’t fit the crime.’’ The competition runs a high-trust model with little oversight. So, when Alhambra-Union looked into it, they found other similar breaches. The club lodged a formal complaint. Alhambra-Union were docked five competition points when prop Jermaine Ainsley took the field for about 20 minutes in said game. The club had tried to register him on the day of the game but had failed. Zingari-Richmond raised the issue with the Otago Rugby Football Union match committee but opted against pressing ahead with a formal complaint. The committee decided to move ahead regardless. However, in a statement yesterday, it advised it had reversed its decision. ‘‘Following further investigation across multiple competitions, the committee concluded that Alhambra-Union had been treated inconsistently with others. ‘‘As a result, the committee has determined that Alhambra-Union will have the competition points for this fixture reinstated, and the original match result will stand. ‘‘The competition system relies heavily on the good faith, honesty, and integrity of all participants. ‘‘However, this situation has highlighted a potential failing in the current process, which will be included in the end-of-year competition review.’’ Alhambra-Union leapfrogged Zingari-Richmond at the bottom or the competition standings. They are now in eighth place with one round-robin match remaining. adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz
