Brawl in BPCA game leaves player concussed with police called, as league launches probe

A formal investigation is underway into a brawl that exploded during a BPCA D-grade game on Saturday, leaving one player concussed after he was reportedly kicked in the head.

A formal investigation is underway into a brawl that exploded during a BPCA D-grade game on Saturday left one player concussed after he was reportedly kicked in the head.

The match between Portarlington and Queenscliff was abandoned in the 16th over of the second innings after a fight broke out that left Queenscliff opening batsman Mick Farrell reportedly concussed.

The BPCA has launched its investigation into the incident, which will be led by Association senior vice-president Denis Bilston.

Police confirmed they were called to the match at Portarlington Recreation Reserve but did not lay any charges and are no longer investigating the matter.

It is believed there was verbal tension between the two sides throughout the match, but that escalated into a verbal confrontation between Portarlington bowler Brock Williamson and Farrell, and then a phsyical fight broke out, which involved a handful of players.

Williamson was not involved in the physical fight.

Multiple sources have indicated that Farrell swung his bat at a Portarlington player as the confrontation became physical.

Farrell was reportedly stuck in the head by a foot during that incident, but it is not yet clear who delivered the blow.

He was treated for concussion on Saturday and was due to receive another check up on Sunday.

Portarlington CC president Peter Evans spent Saturday night speaking to both teams, and said things “got out of hand”.

“There was an incident with a couple of fellas that escalated, and there was a bunch of blokes that came in to sort it out,” he said.

“There will be a wash up of it all but there were enough people to see what happened, and the facts of it all will come out.

“There were a couple of events that happened that weren’t pretty.”

Mick Farrell. Picture: Stephen Harman

Queenscliff CC declined to comment until any internal or league investigations had concluded.

The two sides spoke after the game, in which apologies were made, and agreed to cancel the remainder of the match and declare it a draw.

BPCA president Ian Caldwell will not oversee the investigation himself because of long-held ties to Portarlington and said he hoped the league investigation was wrapped up “the sooner the better”.

“It’s probably too early to tell at this stage exactly what is what but the early reports don’t bode well for both sides,” he said.

Police confirmed to the Geelong Advertiser that officers were called to the ground, but arrived at the oval after the altercation ended. They said there would be no further investigation of the matter unless prompted by a player involved.

“We’ve got a code of conduct that we work by so we will work through that,” Evans said.

“It’s just not a good thing for cricket.”

Originally published as Brawl in BPCA game leaves player concussed with police called, as league launches probe