Beacon Hill Bears‘ junior teams banned following under-17s grand final brawl with Avalon Bulldogs

ONE of two Sydney rugby league teams involved in an infamous under-17s brawl earlier this month has had several of its teams banned from competition next year — and that’s not all.

David Trodden Pic Gregg Porteous

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THE Beacon Hill Bears junior rugby league club has been banned from fielding teams in the under 15s to under 19s age group next year.

In addition, the club is not permitted to accept players into any of its teams “that are not bona fide residents within the boundaries of the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League”.

Clearances for players from other league districts will not be permitted for a period of two years.

They are two of the punishments handed to the club following the ugly brawl at the end of the under 17 grand final between the Bears and the Avalon Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.

The club has also placed on a $5000 bond for next season and also forfeited a $3000 bond they were on for this season.

The sanctions were imposed after the club pleaded guilty to the NSW Junior League Association charges for breaches of the NRL National Code of Conduct.

Twelve players from Beacon Hill and one from Avalon were cited as a result of the brawl which one witness described as “just thuggery”.

Footage from the brawl. Credit: Fox Sports

Bans of 15, eight and seven years imposed on three Beacon Hill players for their involvement.

Video footage obtained by The Manly Daily suggests the incident was sparked as two rival players were involved in some push and shove when an Avalon player ran in and threw a punch.

The Avalon Bulldogs were ordered to pay a $1500 bond and “agree to implement strategies at club level to raise awareness of the National Code of Conduct throughout the club.”

The Beacon Hill Bears have been left devastated by the penalties that have been handed to their club.

Officials say the penalties will decimate the Bears club next year and that those players left without a team will walk away from the game.

And they wonder why innocent footballers are being punished for an incident which occurred in a game they had no involvement in.

The incident occurred at Brookvale Oval.

The club has lodged an appeal against the penalties imposed and officials have been requested to make no comment while that matter is still pending.

Two of the teams that will be affected by the penalty to ban the Beacon Hill club from fielding teams in the under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 competitions are the Bears current under-15 and under-14 sides.

Both teams won their grand finals last Saturday.

The under-15s defeated Asquith after the game went into extra time when the score was 24-all at the end of regular time.

Beacon Hill were also premiers in the under-13s and under-14s while their teams were runners-up in the under-12s and under-17s.

It was the brawl at fulltime in the under-17 game with Avalon that led to the penalties being imposed.

NSW Rugby League chief executive Dave Trodden said while the incident was under review he did not want to make any comment.

BEARS PLAYER HIT WITH 15-YEAR BAN

A JUNIOR rugby league player from the Beacon Hill Bears was hit with a 15-year ban for his role in the disgraceful brawl that marred the end of an under-17 grand final against Avalon earlier this month.

Two of his teammates were also suspended for periods of eight and seven years.

They were all found guilty of Code of Conduct breaches following the game at Brookvale Oval which one witness described as “just thuggery.”

“Incidents like these need to be eradicated from our game,” said CEO of the NSW Rugby League Dave Trodden.

NSW Rugby League chief executive Dave Trodden Pic Gregg Porteous

“Junior sport is to be enjoyed by its young participants, not spoiled by inappropriate behaviour

“If there is even just one incident of this type, then it is one too many.

“Our sport does not and will not tolerate it.”

In the aftermath of the game, which was won by Avalon at the death 21-20, twelve players from Beacon Hill and two from Avalon were cited after video of the ugly fight was examined.

Players received suspension ranging from one match to the 15 years on low, medium and high grade charges for breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Footage of the brawl. Picture: Facebook/Northern Beaches News

The penalties followed a marathon NSW Rugby League judiciary hearing last Thursday night and the players were informed by e-mail on Friday.

Two Beacon Hill players had their cases adjourned.

The suspended players are not permitted to participate in any organised rugby league competition or activity, including school football, gala days, developments squads, and tournaments in any capacity including as a coach, first aid officer, referee or touch judge.

“The Avalon Bulldogs Junior Rugby League pleaded guilty to a breach of the Code of Conduct and were ordered to pay a $1500 bond and agree to implement strategies at club level to raise awareness of the National Code of Conduct throughout the Club,” the NSW Rugby League said in a statement