WATER POLO RIOT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 8

WATER POLO RIOT

UNRULY PLAYERS ROUGH GAMES IN SYDNEY Unprecedented scenes reigned at the Drumnioyne baths during the New South Wales water polo final between Sydney and Pyrmont, deadly rivals for years. The game started wildly and "ended as a riot, and player after player was ordered from the water. A vivid description of this sensational ipatch is given in the followingletter from Mr. Owen F. Paltridge, formerly of Gisborne, to "Leader." "The huge crowd did not like the match, or they may not have enjoyed seeing their favorite players receive iparehing orders. However, they vyere displeased, so they pushed a fully-clothed official into the, water. They liked this. Resounding cheers greeted the splash made by Mr. Tom Meagher, champion surf-belt swimmer, when he hit the water. "It was the most sensational and roughest game of water polo Sydney has known .since the days when the sport was killed through similar displays,'' continues Mr. Paltridge. "There were fights between the participants and'the spectators, many of whom had their hats tossed into tho bath. Such prominent .sportsmen as 'Seotty' Black, 'Tassie' King, North Narrabeen, club's champion surfer, and Shan O'Connor, the Sydney club champion, figured in the game, in which the rules were sacrificed for ducking, punching, and every description of illegal work. "S. O'Connor (Sydney) and J. Black (Pyrmont) were first ordered out of the water for refusing to atop wrestling. They were quickly followed byiT. King (P.) and J. O'Connor (S.), who had been mixing matters in great style. O'Connor was attacked by a player while standing on the edge of the baths and the police rushed forward to stop fhc melee. When at fulltime there was no score, an extra three minutes was played. Still no score. Another six minutes, and still no score. I almost fell in the bath with excitement. Pyrhont was now playing with two men (three had becsome temporarily exhausted), against five of ' Sydney. Extra time was again ordered; I could not hear how many minutes owing to the noise of the excited fans. Then a supreme effort by Owen Griffiths (you will remember him), netted a goal for Sydney.

"Immediately the exhausted players and those previously ordered out of the water hopped in to the bath, which is, of course, in accordance with the rules. Pyrmont quickly equilised, but Griffiths put the issue beyond doubt with a great shot. The hectic game finished with Sydney the winners by two goals to one. The crowd rose from the scats when the final whistle blew, hooted everybody loudly, and again pushed high official Meagher into the water.

"My own view of the matter is that such a display will not do the sport any good, but I must admit I was just as excited as any other person over the whole affair. It' wai hair-raising water polo."