FOOTBALL FIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20636, 16 August 1941, Page 10

FOOTBALL FIGHTS

SCENES IN SYDNEY HEAVY BETTING ON GAME SYDNEY, Aug. 11. More than 1000 men were involved in a wild fight at tile Jubilee Park Oval, Glebe, yesterday, 10 minutes before play ended in a Rugby League final between the Wharf Labourers and Rozelli Old Boys. There was heavy betting on the match, the police were fold, and this caused bitter feeling. At Erskineville Oval on Saturday afternoon police had to stop a fight during an Australian Rules match between Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney. Two players began fighting and several spectators joined the struggle. Rozelle Old Boys were leading three points to nil when the fight at Glebe started. Some players began to fight, and spectators jumped over the fence at several places and began fighting with the players and between themselves. Sergeant Barry and Constables Scott and Reid went on to the oval to try to restore order, but in a few minutes more than 1000 men were fighting. Many men were knocked down. Some were bleeding and others were badly bruised. The police radio sent out instructions and police were sent to the oval by car. All wireless cars near the oval were ordered to assist in restoring order. After the oval was cleared the fight was continued in the spectators’ enclosure. The police were able to escort the members of both teams to their dressing rooms. An attempt was made to lock the doors, but some men rushed the Rozelle Old Boys’ room, and the fight was continued there even more fiercely. Some of the crowd heard the noise and stormed the rear of the dressing room. A lattice screen was torn down and the glass in the windows was smashed with palings ripped from a fence. Sergeant Barry attempted to beat back the crowd, but he was showered with broken glass and his face and hands were cut. The match was not played for the full time, and it was dark before the police were able to clear the ground. No arrests were made.