York Valkyrie’s Jess Sharp facing hefty ban after red card

The 19-year-old has been handed a Grade E Biting charge by the Match Review Panel, and will automatically face an Operational Rules Tribunal.

Sharp was sent off as the game approached the half-hour mark, just minutes after she had been introduced from the bench.

It at first appeared to have been something from nothing on the halfway line, with the teenager visibly distraught as she was given her marching orders by referee Sam Jenkinson.

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Valkyrie director of rugby Lindsay Anfield had hoped that Sharp’s red card would have been sufficient, with a tough semi-final at St Helens next up on May 11.

“We’ve watched [the incident] back,” she said following the full-time hooter.

“We had a 10-second delay on what happened, and it was just something from nothing really. They’re saying striking, but it wasn’t really.

“She was shocked, and a bit upset about it, to have only been on for a few minutes. But hopefully that’s settled it, and it just comes to nothing.”

Grade E offences result in an immediate referral to an Operational Rules Tribunal, with a tariff to begin at a six-match suspension – although the amount of penalty points will be determined by the Tribunal.

York Knights’ Jesse Dee was also charged by the Match Review Panel. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) Sharp is not the only York player to be charged by the Match Review Panel this week, with York Knights’ Jesse Dee handed three penalty points for a Grade B Dangerous Throw/Lift during Sunday’s win against Widnes.

The second-rower was sin-binned late on in the Knights’ 26-12 win for a tip tackle as Mark Applegarth’s side saw out much of the closing stages with 12 men.

The charge takes Dee’s penalty points total to four after a previous charge following his sin-bin in January’s Amsterdam Challenge.