Brad Fash cleared of biting charge & Sam Powell receives lengthy ban

Brad Fash has been cleared of the biting charge against him following the Hull derby on Good Friday at Craven Park.

Fash, 26, was accused by Hull KR’s Elliot Minchella during their clash last Friday.

Minchella made an official complaint to the referee on the day. However, the tribunal has dismissed the allegation due to insufficient evidence.

Brad Fash verdict:

A statement read: “Each of the two players here – Elliot Minchella and Brad Fash – gave fair and credible evidence. Neither one of them could be said to be untruthful. Elliot Minchella felt that he had been bitten and that was a genuine reaction to the coming together of his hand and Brad Fash’s face. Brad Fash’s evidence that he did not, nor would he, bite Elliot Minchella or any other player was also very credible. Further, it is very difficult to see what motivation Brad Fash would have had to bite in the unremarkable circumstances of this particular tackle.

“In these circumstances the Tribunal is not satisfied to the relatively high standard of proof that is required to secure a conviction for this sort of serious allegation. There is no evidence of a bite injury and the film footage does not show an actual bite, although it suggests a coming together of Elliot Minchella’s hand and Brad Fash’s mouth.”

Sam Powell banned

Meanwhile, Wigan hooker Sam Powell has been found guilty of a Grade E offence of Dangerous Contact. He has been suspended for six matches.

The 29-year-old was charged for a crusher tackle on St Helens winger Jon Benison during their Good Friday derby.

He will miss Wigan’s Super League games against Salford (twice), Warrington, Huddersfield, Castleford. He will also miss the club’s Challenge Cup quarter-final tie with St Helens in May.

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