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MAGNERS LEAGUE

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Turner could pay for outburst

Monday 28th April 2008

Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner could be in hot water with Welsh Rugby Union bosses after he launched a furious tirade of abuse in the direction of referee Tim Hayes.

Hayes took charge of the Magners League clash between the Ospreys and Turner's Dragons on Friday and his performance left Turner seething.

The Dragons went down to a 16-3 defeat but the game could have been so different had the match officials spotted a blatant forward pass that lead to Aled Brew scoring a decisive try for the Ospreys.

Turner rushed onto the pitch at the end of the game to confront Hayes, although he was prevented from getting to close by stewards. That didn't prevent him from venting his feelings in Hayes' direction, and under the WRU code of conduct Turner could now face disciplinary action.

"I'm not happy. I was just trying to ask about the forward pass," bristled Turner to the Western Mail
"For the second year in succession I have had to speak to Robert Yeman, WRU referees' chief, about Mr Hayes.

"He has got a job to do and should be accountable, like me. Robert Yeman told me he felt sorry for us."

Defeat means Dragons' chance of claiming an automatic place in next season's Heineken Cup look impossible.

"I am pretty philosophical, it's our goal to qualify, but we have blown our chance of qualifying automatically as third-placed Welsh region," said Turner.