A parent's instincts took over during a junior cricket match on the New South Wales mid-north coast last week, when a random intruder walked onto the field and assaulted an umpire.
Drama Unfolds at Oxley Oval
The alarming incident occurred on Thursday, December 18, 2025, during a 50-over fixture at Port Macquarie's Oxley Oval. The match was part of the under-15 Northern Country Youth Championships, featuring teams from Lake Macquarie and Northern Inland.
Proceedings were around the halfway mark when a man, described as a passerby not associated with the game, entered the field of play. The umpire, believed to be in his 60s, approached the man and asked him to leave. The request was ignored.
Instinctive Intervention from Coach and Parent
Watching from the sidelines was Kerryn Ball, a coach for the Lake Macquarie side and father to one of the players. Ball, a 41-year-old corrections officer from Huntlee, said he felt something "doesn't feel right" as the situation escalated.
"Once I saw him take a swing at the umpire I just started running," Ball told the Newcastle Herald. "It was sort of a free hit then to do whatever I could to stop him."
Video footage of the incident shows the intruder confronting the umpire, who is then knocked to the ground. Ball is seen sprinting onto the field, entering the frame to tackle the man to the turf. Other parents quickly rushed in to help restrain the individual until police arrived approximately ten minutes later.
Ball expressed particular concern for the young players, noting the intruder picked up an unknown object from the ground. "That's like, woah, get the kids away," he said.
Officials Praise Swift Response
Newcastle Cricket Zone chairman Andrew Cornwell, who is also president of the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association, commended the parents' actions.
"In true cricketing spirit the parents quickly restrained the individual concerned until the police arrived," Cornwell said. "The safety of our players and officials is paramount and we owe a debt of gratitude to the parents and police."
He described Ball's actions as a "proactive response" to an unexpected and dangerous situation. Play was halted after the incident, with players taking an early lunch break while umpires provided statements to Port Macquarie police.
Ball, a former club cricketer himself, said he had never witnessed anything like it in his years around the sport. "I've seen people walk on [the field] and then just continue walking, but not attack the umpire like that. Bit different," he remarked.
The Lake Macquarie team went on to win the match against Northern Inland, eventually finishing second overall in the championship standings for the 2025-2026 season.
