Jonny Hill avoids red card for sickening challenge in today’s Premiership showdown
Exeter Chiefs were lucky to keep 15 men on the field in the first half of their crunch semi-final with Bath at Sandy Park today. Jonny Hill saw yellow for this sickening challenge in the 33rd minute of play.
The game had been well fought with either side’s trading scores in the opening 40 minutes.
Exeter utilised their trademark pick and go to over through Luke Cowan-Dickie and Hill himself but Rhys Priestland kept Bath in it through some accurate goalkicking.
The hosts led 14-6 at the time of the Jonny Hill sin-binning.
Was he lucky not to see red here? See the sickening hit below
Naughty here from Jonny Hill, Exeter down time 14 men pic.twitter.com/5qKhYovKD2
— Edward Barker (@EdwardB24376757) October 10, 2020
Fans had a mixed reaction to the clearout with many praising referee, Luke Pearce, for his handling of the situation.
Disgusting call from Pearce. How the heck isn’t that a red card against Jonny Hill… anymore pressure and he would of snapped Falateau’s neck. Where’s the player welfare !? @jollygibbo #EXEvBAT #GallagherPrem @btsportrugby
— Sam Beaumont Gibbons (@SamGibbons89) October 10, 2020
Luke Pierce bottling the obvious red card Jonny Hill. Bottling at least a card initially and only giving a peno, then upgrading it to only a yellow when its clearly neck contact. Why the upgrade to yellow if its still effectively what he thought he saw first time round? #EXEvBAT
— Brian Cawley (@B1Cawley) October 10, 2020
How the fuck did Jonny Hill not get a red?
— Adam Mitchell (@Minimitch87) October 10, 2020
Jonny Hill has to go there for me. Let off by the letter of the law – he’s clearly seen that the player is defenceless and comes straight in, no arms, on the neck/back area. If that’s not what we’re trying to get out of the game, then what’s the point? #EXEvBAT @premrugby
— Colm (@CCsucksatGolf) October 10, 2020
What did you think?
Was this the right call by Pearce or did he absolutely bottle this one?
Let us know
