SCENE AT SPORTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 5

SCENE AT SPORTS

DANCER ATTACKED. TACTFUL POLICE ACTION. An incident, which led to a fracas that might have assumed ugly proportions, happened at the St. Patrick’s Day sports at Newtown on Saturday afternoon. v A young man, David Thomas, seventeen years of age, who resides at 13, Owen street, was dancing with his partner in the championship Irish reel. He was in Gaelic costume, consisting of corduroy breeches, red waistcoat, green stockings, and shillelagh. His partner was an elrerly man. Of the two, the youth was the more “aggressive” dancer, turning and twisting his body to the accompaniment of the pipes with great dexterity. He waved his short shillelagh, and smiled confidently at the crowd of onlookers.

THROWN FROM PLATFORM.

Suddenly, without warning, a man leaped on the temporary platform, and called out, “You get down,” at the same time making a blow at Thomas, which threw him from the platform. In a moment, a number of. men jumped on the platform. An old man was among them, and he was quickly “at holts” with a younger man. Both struck blows. On the opposite side of the platform, another . man, who stated afterwards tTlat he was the father of the young dancer, endeavoured to get into close quarters with the first intruder. TACTFUL POLICE ACTION. The crowd became excited. Just as things were assuming an ugly shape, a sergeant of police and a foot policeman jumped on the platform, and, by the exercise of great tact, succeeded in parting the combatants, and making several of them shake hands.

Loud applause . greeted the. announcement of an official of the dancing that the youth would be given another opportunity, and he received a rousing welcome as lie continued his dance.

“I am all right, except for tho bashing,” he said, afterwards, in the dressing-room. He intimated that he was a regular competitor in national danccsj and won the New Zealand championship in the sword dance at the Basin Reserve on Boxing Day last.