Community work for knocking out former Steamer

A Bay of Plenty rugby player who knocked out a member of an opposing team during a game has to do 200 hours community work and pay $500 reparation.

Farmhand Uenuku Pieta, 22, who was playing for Te Puna, admitted a charge of assault with intent to injure after Te Puke Sports hooker Simon Chisholm was knocked unconscious during a premier grade game last July.

Chisholm, a former Bay of Plenty Steamers player, was severely concussed and spent two days in Tauranga Hospital.

In Tauranga District Court today, Pieta's lawyer Rachael Adams said Pieta had been antagonised on the field, Sun Live reported.

"The victim was slapping Pieta and deliberately taunting him on the field," Adams said.

The assault was triggered by Pieta seeing the victim allegedly punching one of his team mates towards the end of the game, she said.

Judge Louis Bidois said the offence was Pieta's first criminal conviction, he had strong family support, and had been banned from rugby for a year.

"You lost self-control in the heat of the battle, but two wrongs don't make a right," the judge told Pieta.

- © Fairfax NZ News