FOOTBALLERS STONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 7

FOOTBALLERS STONED.

TONGAN TOURING TEAM. INCIDENT AT APIA. HOOLIGANS BOMBARD MOTOR CARS. Tongan Rugby footballers were stoned by a crowd of hooligans on the eve of their departure from Apia, Samoa. The incident was related this -morning by the crew of the Union Company's fruit steamer Waipahi, which carried the footballers from Suva to Nukualofa, via Levuka and Apia. The Waipahi reached Auckland last evening and berthed at the King's wharf.

"The incident was an unfortunate one, as the Tongans were a fine team of sportsmen," said a member of the Waipahi's company. "The Tongans felt more hurt than enraged, although they realised that it was only the hooligan element of the town that was responsible for the stoning."

The Tongans, numbering 25, were embarked by the Waipahi at Suva and taken to Levuka, where they won a football match against the local team. From Levuka they were carried to Apia, A representative match between the Tongans and the Samoans was won by the tourists, and a boxing tournament was arranged for the evening. It was when the Tongans were returning from the hall in which the boxing bouts were held to the Waipalr that the stoning occurred. The footballers were travelling in motor "are, and the glass in at least one of the cars was shattered by the volley of stones. Two of the footballers received minor cute, but no one was seriously injured. During the boxing tournament, one of the Tongan representatives lost his bout on a foul, and it is believed that that fact was made the hooligans' excuse for the stone throwing.

In Suva, where they were beaten in all three Test matches, the Tongans were presented with 300 native mats. Each member of the team was also given a gallon tin of kerosene —presumably as a token of the "light of friendship"—and a 41b tin of biscuits. Iverosenfe, it is stated, is niuch used in Tonga. Although they were well beaten at Suva, where the local players have the benefit of the coaching of an ex-Wellington representative player, the Tongans considered that they had had a wonderful trip, which was only marred by the stone-throwing incident at Apia.

It is stated that the Rugby enthusiasts in both Fiji and Tonga would welcome the chance of sending a team to Auckland, and it is believed that the natives would be a good draw here. In the Islands the natives play in bare feet, but it has been stated in Fiji that a team of 25 boys, who would play in either boots or canvas shoes, could be selected for an Auckland visit. The Auckland University Football Club have sent several teams to Suva in recent years, and the Aucklanders have been given a gre.-.t reception.