Referee bashed at kids' 'friendly' match

By HELEN TUNNAH and ALAN PERROTT

A referee was punched and kicked to the ground for prematurely ending a children's friendly rugby league match in Auckland at the weekend.

One man faces assault charges and a ban from attending all sport after the incident at Papakura on Saturday morning.

Referee Neil Galvin was bruised over much of his body.

He was attacked, allegedly by supporters of the Ellerslie under-10s team, which was winning easily when he called a halt to the game, ruling it had become too violent.

His 10-year-old son, Jesse, and the other children burst into tears as they watched him being kicked by several people as he lay curled up on the ground.

Police were called and the children were quickly hustled away to their clubrooms.

The Auckland Rugby League, New Zealand Rugby League and the Ellerslie Eagles club will investigate.

Club chairman Bryan Knight refused to comment yesterday, other than to confirm the club's internal investigation.

It was the second instance of sideline violence at children's sport in a fortnight.

A 10-year-old league player from St Joseph's School in central Auckland was struck by his father 12 days ago when he refused to return to the field after being heavily tackled.

The principal of the opposing May Road School team has demanded action from the Auckland Rugby League.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr Galvin had bruising over his arms and legs, swelling and abrasions to his face, and a large stomp mark on his chest.

He said he was more upset for his son and other children who saw the attack when they should have just been enjoying their sport.

"When I walked into the clubrooms they were all crying.

"My son doesn't cry much, but he really broke down. I've never seen him that upset.

"The kids felt guilty because they thought it all started because they weren't good enough. I apologised to them all for what happened and I tried to explain."

Jesse said he was frightened when he saw the men, and possibly women, hitting his father.

"I just saw them coming and the first couple of swings."

It was the last match of the season. The Papakura team was about 60-0 down when Mr Galvin ended the game a few minutes early.

He had already sent off one boy after two warnings for head high tackles and a halftime chat with his coach.

"But the tension built up on the sideline and it started to reflect in the game," he said.

"The sideline started to get loud and aggressive. They were saying, 'Go out and smash 'em, waste 'em.'

"It got to the point where it was getting out of hand, I called, 'Time over, you win'."

Then, he said, "the sideline came over, swept me off my feet, bowled me over and punched and kicked me when I was on the ground.

"I was just thinking, 'Defend, defend, defend'. I think a woman came in and kicked me as well because I could hear the voices. They were all over me."

A 38-year-old man has been charged with assault and will appear in the Papakura District Court today. Further arrests are expected.

Papakura police have asked for anyone with videotape of the game to contact them.

Mr Galvin's wife, Erica, was watching from the sidelines and sent family friend Douglas Tarry to help.

"It was disgusting," Mr Tarry said.

"I ran over there and knocked one of them out of the way, but then I got punched in the face and kicked."

Papakura club members and supporters stopped the assault, and called the police.

Mr Galvin was taken to a medical centre for treatment.

Despite the attack, he intends to continue refereeing children's sport, and yesterday was watching Jesse at practice with the Counties under-10 representative team.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Selwyn Pearson said such incidents were totally unacceptable.

Anyone who attacked a referee "won't have much of a future in rugby league", he said.

"I had to deal with a parent involved in violent behaviour when I was on the ARL, and he can watch league again when he's about 75."