'Dangerous' Lee tackled at hearing

Counties Manukau No.8 Fritz Lee has been cited for a dangerous tackle and will face a judicial hearing.

This follows his team's Week Four NPC match against Auckland at Eden Park on Wednesday.

Lee was cited under law 10.4 (e): For a dangerous tackle on Auckland openside flank Sean Polwart in the third minute of the first half.

Auckland won the match 22 – 20.

Lee's hearing will be heard by judicial officer Chris Morris by video conference on Friday, September 6.

* Meanwhile, North Harbour players Zac Judge and Jordan Manihera have both received suspensions following judicial hearings after separate incidents in their Week Three match against Northland last weekend.

Judge was ordered off the field after a lifting tackle on Northland's captain Rene Ranger.

In hearing the case judicial officer Nick Davidson took into account Judge's early admission of a careless, but not intentional dangerous tackle.

He also took into account Judge's character as a player and his relatively clean record.

Judge was suspended up to and including Friday, September 13, meaning he will miss North Harbour's match against Manawatu this Sunday and their game next Friday against Tasman.

Jordan Manihera, who was cited after the match, was suspended for one week – up to and including Sunday, September 8, for stamping on Northland lock Bryce Williams in the second minute of the second half.

After hearing submissions from the player's representative, Davidson took into account Manihera's early admission of guilt, and accepted the offending was reckless but at the lower end of the scale of offending.

Manihera will miss North Harbour's match against Manawatu in Palme.