THE SPRINGBOKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 254, 7 August 1937, Page 8

THE SPRINGBOKS.

MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON. " » GROUND IN GOOD CONDITION. WELLINGTON, This Day. A fierce southerly which came up yesterday afternoon and raged throughout the night, threatening success of the Rugby match Springboks versus Wellington, brought a little rain and the ground remains in good condition. Prospects are that the afternoon will continue fine, but with a stiff southerly breeze along the playing area, Heavy clouds still show from the south, however, and there is some uncertainty whether squalls may not still come over. The gates were to open at 10 o’clocii, and a quarter of an hour before tha.t time 1000 or more people were queued up, waiting. Some hundred or more members of clubs make up a body oi voluntary workers to handle the crowd inside, and there were also over 40 paid commissionaires. The police force inside and outside the ground also exceeds 40 in number. There is a huge influx of visitors to the city, all roads literally leading to Athletic Park. Adopting their customary policy, the i Springbok team left the city to spend the morning out of town. S.. C. Louw will not play for the Springboks and will be replaced by H. Martin. Augmented rail and ’bus services ran from the suburbs since early this morning, and special trains from further afield include two from Palmerston North, two from Paekakariki, and one from Masterton. All were full. The Limited express had four extra cars attached, carrying enthusiasts from Auckland. More people came from the south by the Maori, and from Neffion by the Matangi. Marlborough enthusiasts have the opportunity, of coming over by air. A great many people are arriving by car, both from Manawatu and Wairarapa and further afield. For the first time in New Zealand teleprinters are being used at the sports ground to dispatch press reports of the game. One plant directs contacts with Auckland for the main North Island service, and another is connected with the telegraph division at Wellington for South Island centres. Provision is made for hand Morse in case of failure of the power. It is expected that the time saved will he an hour and a half. The score at 3.50 o’clock was:— Springboks ... ... 21 Wellington 0