NEWBRIDGE Rugby Club face losing thousands of pounds of Welsh Rugby Union funding unless they clean up the worst disciplinary record in Welsh rugby.

But team manager Keith Westwood claims his outfit are not a dirty side, accuses referees of inconsistency and says he feels like packing the game in.

First Division Newbridge have had six players sent off this season, two subsequently cleared, and have had 15 yellow cards with one expunged and two on appeal.

This has resulted in a warning from the WRU, but financial penalties will follow if the yellow and red cards continue.

l If Newbridge have two more players sent off, taking them back to six, they will lose 5% of their funding (almost £4000) with a further 1% for any further dismissal.

l If their yellow cards reach 18 (just three more) they will lose 3% (almost £2,400), money they, like any other Division One club, can ill afford, though they do run a tight ship.

Westwood told the Argus: "I agree it looks a disgraceful record at face value, but having seen some of the refereeing this season I feel like packing it all in.

"I have been in the game since 1957 at this level and I have never seen anything like it.

"There is so much inconsistency with it all that I'm just lost for words, honestly.

"Take Geraint Gladwyn's yellow card against Glamorgan Wanderers last Friday.

"I saw it happen with Wales and New Zealand and I saw it happen with Australia and England where people run over the top of the ruck with their feet because a player is led on the ball.

"Now that's what Geraint Gladwyn did and he is sin-binned.

"I don't want Newbridge to be known as referee bashers, that's for sure, but at the end of the day I feel refereeing now isn't the way it was when I played and certainly wasn't the way it was when I coached.

"There's no sympathy for the game now. I'm frustrated but feel more frustrated for the boys who are being punished.

"I told one of your colleagues earlier this season and I say it again now, Newbridge are not a dirty side. "We don't send players out to offend. I really don't know what else to say."