Referee Neall geared up for Aussie series

Palmerston North's Vince Neall won't have TV replays and infrared technology at the ready for refereeing next week's trans- Tasman association croquet test series.

Instead, he's got a black suitcase.

Inside there's a piece of fishing wire attached to a curtain ring at one end and a button at the other. That's used to determine whether a ball has gone though a hoop.

Then, if rain forces a match to be postponed, Neall has coloured markers to put in the ground, marking each ball's position.

Rain in croquet terms is not a shower, but surface ponding so bad the balls won't roll over the lawn.

Neall has a team of six referees for the series between the Black Mallets and Australia, held at the Rose Gardens and Takaro clubs in Palmerston North.

As tournament referee, he's the official players appeal to if they don't agree with a referee's decision.

As there's no film footage, players can't appeal matters of fact, such as whether a ball hit another, but interpretation of the rules.

Referees also get involved in how to rectify errors, such as when a player hits the wrong ball.

"Sometimes they get themselves in a pickle and we try and get them out of it."

It will be Neall's first stint as a tournament referee, so is he feeling nervous?

Laughing, he replies: "Well, I've got a lot of very experienced people around me.

"So it's not with fear and trepidation that I face this one, because I know I can call on colleagues if we find ourselves in a very unusual situation."

He enjoys the logic required.

"I have far more enjoyment about the rules than I do drafting the competition, who plays who."

Refereeing top players is usually easier, because mistakes are rare and they know what referees are looking for.

"It's always been the rules of croquet that have intrigued me and it does take a while to learn them all," Neall says.

"You don't learn them overnight."

Neall, professor of earth science at Massey University, is a foundation member of the Rose Gardens Club, which celebrated its 25th birthday last year.

With an association handicap of 10, he's a B grade or "mediocre" player.

"I don't get enough time to get into the top. You have to play every day if you want to be in the top."

The series consists of three two- day test matches, starting on Wednesday. Each team has eight members, four women and four men. New Zealand has won the past four contests.

- © Fairfax NZ News