THE BRAWL THAT WASN'T

LEFT ON THE FIELD

              Source: Daily Telegraph

                 Date: 11/2/99

                 Writer: Kylie Keough 

                   Former Australian rugby league fullback Garry Jack was humiliated and embarrassed every time someone reminded him
            of an on-field fight involving former international forward Ian Roberts,a court was told yesterday.
                  "Every day I get people into the store who saw the incident and remind me of it.They say 'Didn't you get bashed up by Ian Roberts?'"
            Jack,who now runs a sports store in Burwood in Sydney's inner-west,said.
                  Jack,37,is suing Roberts in the Sydney District Court for $100 000 in damages.
                  He claimed Roberts intentionally beat and assaulted him while several of Robert's teammates were holding him during a game between 
            Balmain and Manly at Leichardt Oval in June,1991.
                  In the rare civil action over an incident on a football field,he alleged he suffered shock,traumatic injuries to his face and eyes,cuts,
            headaches and numbness,and was severely embarrassed by scarring to his face.
                  Jack said yesterday he was punched "repeatedky" by Roberts and it felt like he was being "hit with a hammer".
            He said the half-time siren sounded and there were only two points between the teams.
                  "The hooter had gone and we put the ball up in the air and myself and Tim Brasher chased,"Jack told the court.
                  "The Manly fullback,Matthew Ridge,caught the ball and Brasher tackled him,I came into assist him.
                  "We were driving him back in the tackle when Ridge grabbed my shirt collar and gave me a jolt under the chin."
                  In the tackle Ridge would not let go,Jack said,so "I jumped up and attempted to punch him with my left hand" but missed.
                  Jack said Manly players rallied in support of Ridge with centre Daryl Williams "grabbing me by the collar and dragging me off".
                  He said five-eighth Cliff Lyons also assissted by holding Jack's arms and jersey before Roberts joined in.At no stage had he heard the referee 
            blow the whistle to end the play.
                  "Almost instataneously Ian Roberts came in...and grabbed me with his left arm and there were these punches coming in my face,
            repeated punches,"Jack said.
                  "I didn't know what had hit me.He was using the right arm to throw upper-cuts at me.
            "Roberts had me locked in so there was no chance of getting away.The whole incident was only about 10-15 seconds but it felt like an eternity."
                  Jack described himself as being "defenceless" and said Roberts delivered another "three to four" punches before the fight ended near 
            the Manly try-line.He said before the fight there was no "bad blood" between them.
                  "They were the most painful punches I have ever received to the head and face in my 15 year career,"he said."I was in a state of shock,
            it was like being hit with a hammer."
                  Jack said Roberts continued hitting him on the ground until the fight ended and both players were sin-binned for 10 minutes.