Fights, injuries in league brawl won by Welshmen

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33878, 25 June 1975, Page 1

Fights, injuries in league brawl won by Welshmen

The 20-year-old Canterbury Rugby league secondrow forward, Mark Broadburst, was taken to Christchurch Hospital with suspected concussion last evening after being felled bv the Welsh prop, Jim Mills, in the match at the Show Grounds. Mills had been on the field only two minutes—having replaced Peter Rowe—when the incident occurred 25 minutes from full-time, with Wales leading, 18-10.

The Welshmen had been awarded a penalty by Mr T. Drake when Mills stepped up to Broadhurst—who had his back to the 6ft, 17st tourist — and struck him with a punch from behind.

Broadhurst was taken off on a stretcher and was still unconscious when he was carried to Canterbury’s dressing room.

The line umpire (Mr T. C. Houston) reported to Mr

Drake, but to the amazement of the 4000 spectators who had taken up a chant of “off, off off,” the game was restarted with a scrum.

Last night, the hospital authorities reported that Broadhurst was in a satisfactory condition. This was by far the most serious of several unpleasant happenings that punctuated the match. After only nine minutes most of the players were

involved in a brawl which moved about 30 metres upfield as team-mates of the original combatants, Frank Wilson (Wales) and Lewis Hudson (Canterbury), raced in to lend their support. Exchanges among the forwards were rugged throughout, the smaller and less experienced Canterbury pack refusing to back off against the more physical and professional Welshmen.

Punches were regularly thrown in tackles, and the Welsh double international, John Mantle, was penalised for such tactics in successive tackles and then taken a further 10 metres upfield for making remarks to Mr Drake. Three other players retired with injuries. Francis Lawrence, the Canterbury centre, bruised a hip; Mike Nicholas (twisted knee) and Peter Rowe (bruised shoulder) were replaced in the Welsh pack. Mr Drake was severely criticised by the opposing

coaches and players after the game. Although Mr Les Pearce, the Welsh coach, said that “words fail me,” he managed to remark that Mr Drake had “lost control and ruined the match by not clamping down earlier when the players were spotting each other.”

The spectators booed many of the Welsh forwards whenever they had the ball, and the touring captain, David Watkins, received similar receptions when taking kicks for goal. Wales eventually won, 25-18, and the penalty count favoured Canterbury by 20-8.

(Match report, Back page.)