Machete wielding masked bandits picked the wrong club to rob

**kellyhound** · #1 03-24-2008, 01:00 PM

Machete wielding masked bandits picked the wrong club to rob - 50 bikie club members were meeting there.

Police said the robbers raided the Regents Park Sporting Club in Sydney's west about 8.50pm , ordering people at the bar to lie on the floor.

But the robbers failed to notice 50 members of the Southern Cross Cruiser Club enjoying a drink in the nearby auditorium.

"50 of us jumped out of our seats and raced out to the main bar," said club president Jerry "Jester" van Cornwall.

On seeing the bikers approaching, the robbers fled. One sprinted past patrons on poker machines towards the back of the club when he came to closed glass door.

He charged through the glass, leapt off a five-metre balcony and ran through a bowling green.

The other escaped through an exit behind the bar. But Jester ran to the back of the club, waiting for the robber to emerge from the back entrance.

"He came out the door wielding what I thought was a tyre lever, but was actually a samurai sword. I raced in and tackled him to the ground, footy-style, onto the concrete," Jester said.

The man wriggled free, but was pursued by Jester and two other club members named "Bulldog" and Brad, and was crash-tackled again.

The trio hogtied the man and waited for police to arrive. Police soon also located the second robber nearby.

Police today charged a 20-year-old Guildford man and a 16-year-old with the attempted robbery. They will appear this afternoon.

Biker club founder "The Bear" said the robbers appeared to have regretted attempting the heist as soon as they saw the bikers.