Police called to bar brawl in Te Awamutu

When truckie Fraser Darke and his friends entered a Te Awamutu bar on Saturday night they found themselves in the middle of an old-fashioned bar room brawl.

The fight at The Redoubt Bar and Eatery, which they claim was with members of the Te Awamutu Sports Rugby Club, left three of them with injuries. Te Awamutu police are investigating. ‘‘As soon as we walked in the door one of the rugby players threw a glass at somebody, hitting him in the face and drawing blood, and then the same person thought it would be a good idea to throw a bar stool at him,’’ Mr Darke said.

The group of half a dozen friends had been drinking at the RSA in Te Awamutu before heading to The Redoubt about 11pm.

‘‘A friend of mine, Simon, who I used to work with, jumped in and tried to defuse the situation so, concerned for his safety, I grabbed him and manhandled him outside. We were followed by three or four rugby players, all dressed in their number one uniform, and it continued. Simon ended up on the ground in the foetal position and another friend, Matthew Caddy, was knocked out for about five minutes.’’

Mr Caddy was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance and was last night undergoing a brain scan to assess the extent of his injuries.

Mr Darke received a blow to the head in the fracas, although he does not know how he got it.

Rhys Dickie, who works alongside Mr Darke as a truck driver for Freight Lines, claimed he was hit from behind during the melee.

‘‘I got a black eye and can’t remember too much after that.

‘‘Outside, two of the rugby players started play fighting.’’

Police were called and the fight was stopped.

Mr Darke said some of the rugby team remained after the incident and apologised to patrons.

The Redoubt owner Mick Henderson said he could not understand how things had turned ugly at his usually quiet bar.

‘‘I have run this place for 15 years and it’s the first time that anything like this has ever happened,’’ he said.

‘‘It lasted five minutes, one handle was broken . . . it’s just one of those things. I am yet to talk to all of my staff, but the police have been to see me,’’ he said.

Te Awamutu Sports Rugby Club manager Keith Parsons denied any knowledge of the incident. ‘‘First I have heard about it,’’ he said. ‘‘I wouldn’t tell you anything, ask police.’’

Te Awamutu Constable Felicity CookJones said she was investigating the incident and appealed for witnesses to call 07 872 0100.