EXCITEMENT AT FOOTBALL MATCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 310, 23 May 1913, Page 5

EXCITEMENT AT FOOTBALL MATCH.

TROUBLE AMOX3 THE SPECTATORS. THREE ARRESTS. , Ttare was a good' deal of excitement in connection with the contest between, the Ahuriri and Petane teams playing under Northern Union rules at McLean Park, Napier, ~on Saturday afternoon the Tribune). A man named John Webber, who* was under the influence of drinjc, was standing on the line, and judging bv his actions was an ardent supporter of thq Ahuriri ...combination, for on everv occasion thai'the team showed promiseof scoring he encroached on the field of play. One of the League officials thereupon requested Constable Pettit to order the man to keep off the field, and this the constable did, but his action was resented "by Webber, who commenced abusing the constable, and dared him to arrest him. Constable Pettit gave the man an opportunity to. desist, but this was not availed- of, and. Webber continued his epithets. The policeman made an attempt to effect an arrest, and endeavoured to get the. man away quietly, but when Webber showed fight the constable , proceeded to place the handcuffs on his wrists. After struggling for some time the constable called upon a youn,jj man standing near by to come to his assistance. This the youngman did, but as soon as the crowd saw what was; happening, they crowded round and commenced hooting and gesticulating. One or two of the spectators, more venturesome than the majority, wentjso" far as |o interfere with the policeman. For a while the constable was forced todefend himself against great odds. Eventually he succeeded in arresting his man and also another who had been one of the chief obstructors. In the meantime someone hftd - communicated with thepolice station, and Sergeant Cummings, accompanied by Detective - Sergeant Kemp, were quickly on the scene, followed soon j after bv'Constables Rosanoski and Hendrv. The'crowd very quicklyquietened down and the police were able to make another arrest, besides obtainingthe names of several others who were prominent in the riot.