The longest and most vicious brawl in Sydney RL Finals history, it involved virtually every player on the field
|
01
|
|
Story by
|
|
Club supported by author
|
|
Year of story
|
|
Date of Submission
|
|
|
| |
|
David Benham, a Newtown
Supporter living in Jing'An/Shanghai, China
|
|
Newtown
|
|
81
|
|
22/07/04
|
|
A glaring omission from your "Memorable M! atches section is the 1981 Semi-Final between Newtown and Manly.
The longest and most vicious brawl in Sydney RL Finals history, it involved virtually every player on the field from both sides.
The main fight, though, was between Newtown's Steve Bowden and Mark Broadhurst.
It followed a week of taunting of Bowden by the media, mostly employing invented quotes from Broadhurst that, as a former NZ South Island Light Heavyweight champ, he was going to give it to Bowden in the first scrum.
Sure enough, the first scrum erupted as Bowden got in first. He broke both of Broadhurst's cheekbones and completely closed one of the Kiwi's eyes with a terrifying flurry of punches and headbutts.
I had the honour of reintroducing these two gentlemen at a dinner in honour of the 20th anniversary of their fight.
Broadhurst stressed that he had never made any of the inflammatory comments quoted in the pre-match press reports.
The upshot was that Bowden! was sent off and a courageous Broadhurst played on with his injuries.
Bowden was subsequently suspended and his loss was sorely felt by Newtown in the Grand Final, which they lost to Parramatta.
Regards,
David Benham
Appears in the following pages ....P108_Mark BROADHURST
Date of posting ... 03-May-2004
Tell A Friend |
