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from the Illawarra Mercury
By MIKE GANDON
May 20, 2005
TWO Windang junior rugby league players have been banned from the game for four years after their part in a wild brawl in an under 16 game against North-Burgh at Wombarra's Jim Allen Oval last Saturday.
A disciplinary committee comprising Tooheys League chairman Shane McKellar, Dragons Illawarra rugby league manager Kevin Felgate, Tooheys League judiciary chairman Bob Long and the league's solicitor Mick Davies, handed down the lengthy suspensions at a meeting held at the Steelers Club on Wednesday night.
The two teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons because of their age, are banned from playing or attending any rugby league fixtures for the term of their suspension.
They were charged with various offences including fighting and contrary conduct, which involved verbally abusing spectators and match officials. One of the players also struck a sports trainer.
The league will instruct both players to complete an anger management training course before they can return to the game.
Four under 16 players - two from Windang and two from North/Burgh - were cited to appear before the league disciplinary committee after the brawl which erupted near the end of the Illawarra junior league game.
The fighting began when one player pushed another after being tackled. The brawl escalated as players from both sides became involved. The two Windang players joined the brawl from the bench.
"We at the league did think a very lengthy suspension was warranted to illustrate to young players of the game that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," Felgate said.
The two North/Burgh players found guilty of contrary conduct received suspensions of four and six weeks respectively, but because of their previous good record one will serve two weeks and the other three weeks.
More players are likely to be called before the league judiciary on Monday night.
"Upon a full analysis of the video there will be other fighting charges laid against other team members from both clubs," Felgate said.
"They will be referred back to the league judiciary.
"Both clubs have been strictly reprimanded for their teams' actions in tarnishing the image of rugby league and the league will enter into further correspondence with those clubs in due course."
North/Burgh president Peter Carroll said his club provided a videotape of the game in good faith to the league so justice could be done.
"We were also hoping that lengthy suspensions would be handed out to the two Windang players concerned," Carroll said.
"It was up to the judiciary (disciplinary committee) to make (the decision). They're the qualified persons to make those decisions.
"We had two players that went in there last night as well.
"The chairman of the judiciary, Bob Long, did an excellent job."
Windang secretary Barry Jones declined to comment on the matter.
By MIKE GANDON
May 20, 2005
TWO Windang junior rugby league players have been banned from the game for four years after their part in a wild brawl in an under 16 game against North-Burgh at Wombarra's Jim Allen Oval last Saturday.
A disciplinary committee comprising Tooheys League chairman Shane McKellar, Dragons Illawarra rugby league manager Kevin Felgate, Tooheys League judiciary chairman Bob Long and the league's solicitor Mick Davies, handed down the lengthy suspensions at a meeting held at the Steelers Club on Wednesday night.
The two teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons because of their age, are banned from playing or attending any rugby league fixtures for the term of their suspension.
They were charged with various offences including fighting and contrary conduct, which involved verbally abusing spectators and match officials. One of the players also struck a sports trainer.
The league will instruct both players to complete an anger management training course before they can return to the game.
Four under 16 players - two from Windang and two from North/Burgh - were cited to appear before the league disciplinary committee after the brawl which erupted near the end of the Illawarra junior league game.
The fighting began when one player pushed another after being tackled. The brawl escalated as players from both sides became involved. The two Windang players joined the brawl from the bench.
"We at the league did think a very lengthy suspension was warranted to illustrate to young players of the game that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," Felgate said.
The two North/Burgh players found guilty of contrary conduct received suspensions of four and six weeks respectively, but because of their previous good record one will serve two weeks and the other three weeks.
More players are likely to be called before the league judiciary on Monday night.
"Upon a full analysis of the video there will be other fighting charges laid against other team members from both clubs," Felgate said.
"They will be referred back to the league judiciary.
"Both clubs have been strictly reprimanded for their teams' actions in tarnishing the image of rugby league and the league will enter into further correspondence with those clubs in due course."
North/Burgh president Peter Carroll said his club provided a videotape of the game in good faith to the league so justice could be done.
"We were also hoping that lengthy suspensions would be handed out to the two Windang players concerned," Carroll said.
"It was up to the judiciary (disciplinary committee) to make (the decision). They're the qualified persons to make those decisions.
"We had two players that went in there last night as well.
"The chairman of the judiciary, Bob Long, did an excellent job."
Windang secretary Barry Jones declined to comment on the matter.
