Northland player Bronson Murray has been suspended for two weeks up to and including 17 September 2008 for stamping on Taranaki player Scott Waldrom in the Air New Zealand Cup match between Northland and Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth on Friday 29 August.

Murray was cited by Citing Commissioner John Wootton for the incident in the 61st minute of the match.

At the hearing in Wellington today, Murray acknowledged that he had been in breach of the law under which he was cited but claimed that what he did was accidental rather than deliberate. He said he was impeded by the Taranaki player as he endeavoured to step over him and that resulted in him bringing his left foot into contact with the Taranaki player’s head.

After reviewing a videotape of the incident and hearing evidence, Judicial Officer Bruce Squire QC accepted that Murray’s actions were careless rather than deliberate and in view of his previous good record over a lengthy playing career , imposed a suspension on him for a period of two weeks.

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