Vicious on-field footy brawl sparks alleged all-girl streetfight that was so bad it stopped traffic before police called in reinforcements to break it up
There were wild scenes at Sydney’s Redfern Oval this weekend when a full-scale brawl on the pitch in a rugby league grand final spilled onto a nearby road where police were called to stop an alleged girls-only street brawl.
The A-Reserve Grand Final between the Redfern All Blacks and Alexandria Rovers descended into chaos after the Rovers appeared to steal victory close to death.
With the All Blacks favorites playing at home, Jake Trindall – son of former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Darrell ‘Tricky’ Trindall – scored a try late in the game to put the Rovers ahead.
With only 1:25 left on the clock and six points behind, Redfern opted to go for a short kick-off in a desperate attempt to regain possession.
The Rovers were able to secure possession and the Redfern hooker decided to go through with it in the tackle and was sent off for his trouble.
Redfern All Blacks and Alexandria Rovers players converge after Ben Bullivant started an all-in brawl
‘There’s a bit of a mess in there. He (the referee) calls a time-out. Yes, he was sent away,” said Steve Mavin, former Rabbitoh and Bunnies TV commentator.
“A little frustration, the game was over.”
On the next tackle, as the clock ticked on, things escalated dramatically.
As Rovers striker Daniel Stroud fell into tackle, Redfern propagandist Ben Bullivant attempted to hit him on the head, but instead appeared to hit his own teammate Patrick O’Mealey, who staggered with his hands in the air.
“Not very good behavior from Ben Bullivant, the Redfern All Blacks number 10,” Mavin said in his comment.
“The dog shot him.
“It’s getting very ugly in here. What a finish, I am speechless.
“A few All Blacks players will be marched for this. I do not doubt it.’
“Does the number ten hit his own number three right at the start?” asked a social media follower.
Redfern All Blacks stuffs Ben Bullivant before the game. He delivered a series of swinging arms to the Rovers playing in the closing seconds of the game
Locking down robbers Denver Burns stepped in to retaliate and Bullivant kept the haymakers in the air.
“It’s right here,” Mavin said.
Any attempt to end the violence ended with players rushing in from both sides, including Redfern’s Ian Hammond, who came flying in from the bench.
The siren sounded as the punches flew and the referee forfeited the match with the judiciary to resolve suspensions for the long list of players involved.
Rovers players then celebrated their first premiership in over 30 years, with some trying to shake hands with the opposition with whom they merely exchanged blows.
One player did a backflip while another player ran onto the field wearing only his underwear.
Jake Trindall scored the match-winning try for Alexandria Rovers. He is the son of South Sydney legend Darrell ‘Tricky’ Trinder
Darrell ‘Tricky’ Trindall made 150 appearances for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, as well as playing stints with the Bulldogs, Sheffield Eagles and St Helens
‘Happy as the Rovers lads, they went from fighting to dancing, there’s a fellow out there with his parakeets. Going on with the Rovers’ parakeet smugglers,” Mavin said.
“The whistle blows and they all shake hands,” one follower posted with a laughing emoji.
Good to see them all shaking hands. Exactly as it should be. Well done Alexandria Rovers,” another posted.
However, the violence of that day was not over yet.
Footage has been captured of a group of women venting their frustration on each other on the street outside Redfern Oval.
Police were called as traffic was held up by the fighting, which was briefly interrupted before re-igniting nearby.
The wild scenes on the big final day at Redfern Oval spilled out as a group of young women stopped traffic with a brawl of their own
Police were called to stop the escalating violence, which saw a woman hospitalized with a cut to the head
New South Wales Police released a statement confirming that one of the girls was hospitalized after the fight.
“Today (Sunday) around 3pm, police were called to Chalmers Street in Redfern following reports of a brawl,” the statement said.
“It is believed that a group of teenage girls who had been watching a football game at the nearby oval were involved in a fight outside the stadium.
“Police have been told that a large crowd left the stadium and got involved in a brawl after being made aware of the earlier incident.
‘Officials from the South Sydney Police Area Command were present before police from neighboring commands and specialist units were also present. The crowd was dispersed and the incident is under investigation.
‘Nobody needed medical treatment on site; However, police have been told that one of the teens presented at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital around 5:30pm had a laceration to her head. The investigation continues.’