Police have urged Bermuda's citizens to help stop the "madness" after a bottle and chair fight involving up to 30 men broke out at Cup Match, leaving one innocent woman injured.

As many as five Police officers were attacked during the conflict in the main bar of St. George's Cricket Club after the two-day game ended in a draw. A female bystander was treated in hospital for an injury to her shoulder.

Although the confrontation was played down as "minor" by Police on Friday evening, a press conference heard yesterday that it involved "many" combatants from the Pembroke and St. George's areas.

It was sparked by a "heated dispute" between two men and saw those involved hurling chairs at one another and snatching full bottles of beer and hard liquor from behind the bar and throwing them as weapons.

The aggressors attacked four or five Police officers, leaving them bruised and scratched but with no serious injuries. Police arrested 18 people in total and six remained in custody last night.

Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels yesterday made a plea for the public to help stop the "hooliganism that has become pervasive on our island" by providing information about Friday night's fracas, which happened at about 8.15 p.m.

He told the media that witnesses, including those who took photos and video at the scene, and anyone else with details of who was involved, needed to come forward as soon as possible.

"The Police can't be everywhere," said Chief Insp. Daniels, who is coordinating the investigation into the fight. "We are doing our best to try and facilitate and handle this madness but we need the public to assist us. The Police can't work in isolation."

He added: "We either live together in fear or we come out with some togetherness and we arrest these problems."

The second day of Cup Match attracted between 5,000 and 7,000 fans to St. George's Cricket Club, according to senior investigation officer Inspector Calvin Smith.

He revealed that "just over a dozen" Police officers were deployed inside the ground, with about 40 in total in the vicinity.

He said most of the officers in the cricket club were on the main field when the violence broke out, as the majority of fans were gathered there waiting for the prize presentation.

"Once officers became aware of the disturbance, they proceeded to that area and were assisted by off-duty officers in apprehending four men, who were actively involved in the disturbance," he said.

"Efforts were also made to apprehend several other persons who were involved in the disturbance but the officers were obstructed and assaulted by some of the suspects."

Asked if more officers should have been originally deployed to the game, he said: "If we need more than that number, then we need to revisit the way we do things in Bermuda."

Insp. Smith, of Southside Police Station, said he was aware of claims that members of Parkside and St. George's gangs were involved, but insisted it was too soon in the inquiry to say whether that was the case.

Four of the six men in custody are from St. George's and are aged between 19 and 26. The other two are from Pembroke and Devonshire and are 21 and 23.

"We have heard those rumours," said Insp. Smith. "It's obvious by the arrests that some are from St. George's and some are from central. We are definitely interested in [speaking to] those people who have indicated that it was Parkside."

Friday's fight led to huge traffic delays for Cup Match revellers leaving the east end.

Insp. Smith apologised to the public but said the vehicle checks at the Swing Bridge and the Causeway were carried out in order to apprehend fleeing suspects and seize potential evidence.

He said of the 18 arrests, one was for assault on Police, one was for offensive words, four were for affray and disorderly conduct, six were for possession of controlled drugs and six were for outstanding warrants.

Chief Insp. Daniels, from the Serious Crimes Unit, said he did not know the exact number of men involved in the fight. "We know there were many — 20, maybe 30," he said. He added that more arrests in connection with the clash were likely and court appearances would follow.

He urged anyone inside or just outside the cricket club bar at the time of the brawl to come forward, along with anyone who saw fighting at the ground, and anyone who took photos or footage.

"The Cup Match event is one of the oldest organised events on our social calendar and is of great significance to the Island's heritage," he said.

"This underscores why the Bermuda Police Service takes this disturbance extremely seriously, as there were thousands of law abiding citizens, including seniors who have been attending this event for over half a century, as well as children, who were put in fear.

"These individuals are intent on destroying the quality of life that we have come to know and expect on our Island. We would like to make it clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated in public."

• Anyone with information should contact Insp. Smith on 293-2222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers line on 1-800 623-8477.