FIGHT AT FOOTBALL MATCH.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1939, Page 8

FIGHT AT FOOTBALL MATCH.

ALL PLAYERS PARTICIPATE. LIVELY TIME IN LEAGUE GAME By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, Last Night. When their tempers suddenly became frayed half-way through the second spell practically every player in the Rugby League match between the Sydney Eastern Suburbs team and the Auckland Richmond side at Carlaw Park won by Richmond by 17 to 16, became involved in a fight which lasted almost a full minute and in which several spectators finally joined in an effort to separate the contestants. Hooting by the large crowd which followed the incident continued for some time.

The light came as a climax to a series of rough incidents which occurred throughout the game. Several times the referee had stopped play to issue warnings to the players, who appeared to be adopting illegal tactics. The dispute took place right in rront of the main stand and outside the touchline of the actual playing area, the ball having rolled into touch at the time. It was difficult to see how the incident started, but in a very short time several players had come to grips and blows were being exchanged. Other players hurried to separate their team mates and in a few seconds they too were engaged in a general melee. A number of spectators who had been seated against the picicet fence in front of the grandstand then leaped over the fence and assisted the referee and linesmen to stop the fight, me incident was over almost as quickly as it had started and the players soon returned to the field to continue with the game, but the demonstration by the crowd, especially those on the grandstand, was carried or. for a considerable time.

Excellent control of the match was exercised by the referee and he was very quick to curb any rise in tempers which, threatened to take place and when the fight outside the touchline occurred he again demonstrated his control over the players by quickly having them back on the field and carrying on the match as if nothing had happened.