Dorothy Baise, wife of legendary referee Max Baise, died in Riversdale Hospital on Sunday afternoon after a long battle against cancer,

Dorothy and Max were always very close in their 56-year marriage and she supported him throughout his successful career in which he refereed seven tests between 1967 and 1974 - in years when Tests were few.

Dorothy was only 16 when she and Max, then 21, were married. She was born in Krugersdorp but he family moved to Odendaalsrus where Max's father had a shop. When they met, Max was a chemist's assistant on Odendaalsrus.

Max says that Dorothy was his great support and his greatest critic.

Dorothy is survived by Max, their son Ronald and their daughter Bernice, and four grandchildren. The funeral is likely to be on Friday.

Should anybody wish to contact Max his numbers are Max Baise: 028 7133 694 (home) and 028 7133 426 (work)