Gang Attack On Footballers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30782, 21 June 1965, Page 1

Gang Attack On Footballers

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 20. T w o Australian Rugby League players were attacked by a group of youths outside a fish shop in land, early this morning.

One of the Australians, Ken Irvine, was taken to hospital semi-conscious in a police patrol car. He was admitted shortly before 1 a.m. and was X-rayed for possible facial fractures. The other Australian, John Raper, was allowed to leave hospital after receiving attention for facial injuries. Irvine left the hospital at 10 a.m. after being treated for facial cuts and swellings. Both men then took a taxi to Rotorua to join their team mates. Irvine scored two tries in

Saturday’s test match at Carlaw Park.

Raper is accompanying the Australian team at the expense of his club —he was selected for the tour, but broke a thumb in a club match two days before the team left for New Zealand.

Irvine and Raper wereJeaving the fish shop 150 yards from their hotel.

Raper said in Rotorua that half-a-dozen “long-haired teenagers dressed ‘Rolling Stones’ fashion” jostled them as they were leaving the shop.

Irvine was pushed to the ground and kicked. Then Raper was knocked down and also kicked- Their assailants ran away when a third Australian player, Jim Lisle, arrived on the scene. Irvine said doctors at Auck-

land Hospital assured him he would be able to play in the second test in Auckland next Saturday, but he is unlikely to play in the game at Huntly on Wednesday. An inquiry into the incident was held in Rotorua this afternoon by the team managers, Messrs A. Stehr and D. Green. saicAhat'he wais'W mJ lander and had been “bashed" three times previously in the same area. AH the players would be warned not to visit shops in that section of Auckland.