Weeks after a Tokoroa High rugby side was banned from its competition after a supposedly violent end to a match, fresh allegations of assault and racial abuse have emerged against the other team, St Peter’s of Cambridge.
By Jordan Smith of Local Democracy Reporting
The assistant coach of Tokoroa’s under-fourteens claims he was shoulder charged by a St Peter’s supporter - the supporter says that’s not the case - and that Cambridge players called their opponents the n-word.
St Peter’s says it wasn’t aware of an issue with a supporter and staff “never heard this sort of language”.
Tokoroa’s assistant coach Arthur Motley, 73, said the Cambridge supporter ran “full speed” at him and, after colliding, yelled at him to “get his boys under control”.
In CCTV video seen by Local Democracy Reporting the supporter appeared to change his running line metres before his shoulder hit Motley in the shoulder/upper back region.
The supporter denied hitting Motley.
“No way I assaulted him. I had a discussion with him about his players,” he said. “I never hit the guy.”
However, the Tokoroa team’s version of events is supported by South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley and a spectator who made a statement to help the team appeal its ban.
"I also witnessed a separate and very concerning incident involving a St Peter’s supporter and the THS assistant coach, who I understand is aged over 70. The supporter assaulted the THS assistant coach,“ the spectator’s statement read.
“Following this, a THS supporter reacted angrily and approached the individual involved. That person was prevented from getting close to the St Peter’s supporter, and the situation was subsequently contained.”
Petley said "the video coverage from the school security cameras tell a different story" in reference to claims that Tokoroa was the only party at fault. He later confirmed that "the guy ran into Arthur [Motley]".
Police deemed the incident “minor” and said there wasn’t enough evidence to support a charge.
Motley says he still gets physiotherapy support for shoulder and knee injuries.
Recent incidents of verbal and physical sideline abuse have been chastised by Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper, who said it has the effect of pushing kids away from playing sports.
Tokoroa players were also racially abused, Motley said.
The South Waikato players had reported their opponents calling them the n-word during the game, Petley and Motley said.
Additionally, Motley said Tokoroa supporters overheard St Peter’s supporters saying “tackle the black c...”.
“Can you imagine the guys putting up with that for 70 minutes? You just don’t do that.”
Petley said a 14-year-old being referred to that way would “react accordingly”. “There would be expectation anyone would react accordingly. They felt aggrieved by what was being said.”
St Peter’s head of school Jason Speedy said staff members at the game “never heard this sort of language” from either players or supporters, adding there would be “immediate and serious consequences” if it was found.
The school was “not aware” of a supporter committing an assault at the match. However, Motley said he identified the accused to a St Peter’s coach afterwards.
Motley said an older brother of a Tokoroa player ran onto the field after seeing him get hit because “he thought I needed support”.
“He thought I was in danger... I grabbed him because he was going to have a go at the guy. I said ‘leave it, walk away’ and he did.”
He added by the time he was hit, the fracas was “all broken up”.
Local Democracy Reporting previously reported allegations that the game concluded with a Tokoroa player running onto the field and headbutting a St Peter’s player while punching another in the face.
The supporter accused of hitting Motley said his son was the one headbutted.
An anonymous St Peter’s Cambridge supporter said they had to leave “as a pack” due to the intimidating atmosphere.
The Tokoroa team’s ban was issued the week after the game and followed a string of complaints about on and off-field behaviour.
Motley and Tokoroa High School headmaster William Ford, who regularly attends games, said two players were immediately stood down after a confrontation during the St Peter’s game. However, they didn’t feel any incidents during the year warranted a team-wide ban.
Claims of headbutting, punches landing, sideline abuse and creation of an “intimidating” atmosphere were also denied. Motley admitted punches were thrown but was adamant none connected.
A spectator’s statement to the team’s judiciary hearing said a ban would “be an excessive and unfair outcome”.
The spectator said he had previously coached some of the Tokoroa players but claimed to have “no personal interest in the outcome of any complaint or disciplinary process” due to not having children playing for either team.
“In the dying minutes, one [Tokoroa] player... appeared to lose his composure and attempted to trip an opposition player by kicking in his direction. Following the conclusion of the match, that same player, along with a second [Tokoroa] player, became involved in a verbal confrontation with opposition players.
“This subsequently escalated into a brief physical altercation which lasted only a matter of seconds. From what I observed, the situation was brought under control promptly by the adults present.”
The judiciary hearing and decision to ban the Tokoroa team came from local governance group Waikato Secondary Schools rather than Waikato Rugby Union.
Waikato Secondary Schools chair Chris Wynne was contacted but declined to comment.
Speedy, from St Peter’s, said the rugby union conducted an “independent investigation” of the incident and were satisfied with the findings.
The union had previously said it was “not responsible for the running of the secondary school rugby competition”. It did not respond to questions about its investigation.
Tokoroa High made its case to be reinstated into the competition, but was told “no team would play you”, Motley said.
The decision to ban the team relied on previous behaviour and complaints, Ford said, some of which weren’t shared with the school until the hearing.
Motley described it as “terrible”. “To follow a lawful process we should have had information on every complaint that was sent to Waikato Rugby.”
Tokoroa was willing to give up home advantage for a neutral venue, but the decision left players in tears, he added.
“For South Waikato and Tokoroa, it paints a picture of a reputation we’ve unfortunately gained over a number years,” Petley said.
Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including terror close to a British air base, and an unlikely win for the Wallabies. (Source: 1News)
SHARE ME