FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1939, Page 7

FOOTBALL

LEAGUE MATCH. RICHMOND BEAT SYDNEY TEAM. (By Telegraph—Press Association ) AUCKLAND, April 10. After a splendid exhibition of the Rugby League code, Richmond, beat the combined Eastern Suburbs team from Sydney at Carlaw Park today by 17 points to 16. The weather was hot and the ground hard. The attendance was 7000. DISGRACEFUL SCENE. FREE FIGHT AMONG PLAYERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 10. When tempers suddenly became frayed halfway through the second spell, practically almost every player in the Rugby League match between the SydEastern Suburbs team and the Richmond side, Auckland, 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 fight 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 players who appeared to be adopting illegal tactics. The dispute took place right in front of the main stand and outside the touch-line 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 picket fence in front of the grandstand then leapt over the fence and assisted the referee and linesmen to stop the fight. The 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, specially those on the grandstand, was carried on 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. When the fight outside the touchline occurred ne again demonstrated his control over the players by quickly having them back on the field carrying on the match as if nothing had happened. PIRATES TOURNAMENT. WIN FOR NAPIER, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., April 10. With an unbeaten record, Napier won the annual Rugby tournament between Pirate clubs in the southern half of the North Island. Napier thus became holders of the Wallace Cook Cup, which was previously held by Kia Toa (Palmerston North): Results of today’s matches are:—Napier beat Kia Toa (Palmerston North), 18-16; Wanganui beat Wellington, 19-5. Back— Varsity sports 12