Summons for To-day’s Inter-Island Match

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 3

Summons for To-day’s Inter-Island Match

Canterbury Forward , Catches Steamer at 25 Minutes’ Notice

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 2. R. Stuart, the Canterbury Rugby forward, learned at 6.45 p.m. to-day that he was wanted at Athletic Park for the North v. South match to-day. He caught the steamer express train at 7.10 p.m. and was able to get a berth on the Rangatira, which sailed at 8 p.m. One of the South Island selectors, Mr R. R. Masters, telephoned Mr J. M. Hargreaves, Secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union at six o’clock, and asked him to advise Stuart that he was required for the game because several of the forwards chosen were suffering from the effects of - previous injuries, and they might not be able to play. Mr Hargreaves - did not know Stuart’s address, but he remembered that he had a brother belonging to the Marist Club. He telephoned to a member of that club, who gave him the address of another club member. A second telephone call brought another new address, but at the third attempt, a willing helper said that he wduld run to Stuart’s home, a block or two away. That was at 6. 40 p.m. At 7.5 p.m. Stuart telephoned Mr Hargreaves from the Railway Station. Mr Hargreaves told him that it was possible that he might not get a game, but Stuart replied that that was all right—he would see the game at any rate. Mi’ Hargreaves said that Stuart did not have a ticket, but he had no doubt that he would manage to get aboard the steamer.

Stuart’s sailing was later confirmed by the Purser of the Rangatira in a radiogram in answer to an inquiry by “The Press.”