FOOTBALL THE TOPIC

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 12

FOOTBALL THE TOPIC

I ‘PASSWORD’ OF THOUSANDS j RUGBY PARK BESIEGED TO-DAY. ! HAPPY CROWD WITH ONE DESIRE. ! Shades of the past when thousands j thronged the Colosseum for the chari lot races of old came to realisation •' again in Hamilton, to-day, when thousands of Waikato people besieged Rugby Park with the one desire ;of seeing the already renowned J Springboks of 1937 in action against | the formidable corn-biped fifteen. AcI cumulated anticipations of weeks j found expression on the faces of all. • The first of the crowd commenced i fo arrive about 7.30 a.m. and from ! then -in there was a steady stream of ! patrons. j A record of seven year’s standing, i—the £ISOO gate and the crowd of i about 13,000 which congested the Park on August 2, 1930, when the | British team played in Hamilton —soon j showed signs of disappearing as the j human stream wended Its course | through the three entrance gates at Rugby Park. The mile walk ; from town lo the park was tramped : from early forenoon to evening and I an augmented fleet of buses and hun- ( deeds of private motor-cars transported more of the muster before coliecting in compact assemblage in the : special parking areas at the ground. Special Trains Crowded. The exodus from country to town was aided by the special trains which arrived at the Hamilton station in the forenoon, bringing enthusiasts from far and near. It provided more work for the railway officials, but to-day’s big travelling public was not the harassed crowd which frequents the stations in holiday time. It was a carefree lot. Trains from Rotorua, . a special from Taumarunui, others from the north, another special from Thames, and other services were packed as they rumbled into the Hamilton and Frankton stations with hundreds taking advantage of the special excursion fares. More people were brought to the town on buses, which were crammed to capacity. Rugby is New Zealand's national sport, but although interest in the game is shared by almost everyone, It is only on occasions such as to-day that some people patronise the venues of play. The mob was hy no means composed solely of men. Women and children, especially the latter, took their place in the push, jolting elbows with businessmen, shop assistants, farmers, labourers, professional men and others. It was a brotherhood of Rugby fans. Although courteous, the crowd observed Hie etiquette of “first .come—first served” in the selection of seats. All day there was a purposeful bustle with everyone endeavouring to select the best of the seats. It was a day of days for the small boys, who squeezed in everywhere. When the Gates Opened.

The gates did not open until about ten o'clock, but lofrg before that, longawaited hour the enthusiasts began to arrive. Boxes, cushions and overcoats and an attache case or paper bag for the lunch, were the accessories carried by some of those waiting. When the gates at Seddon Road, Hinemoa Street arid Mill Street corner opened the scene resembled a stream trickling over a dam. During the earlier part of the day boys in trim white coats selling refreshments were well patronised. Badges and Ribbons. Nearly everyone of the crowd displayed a badge or a flutter of colours symbolic of the team they were sup • porting, and although the majority were supporting the home team the visitors were the idols of many. With so many thousands at the Park and the hundreds in other districts listening-in to the first radio broadcast over the national network of a Rugby match in Hamilton, the number of people following the match would he the greatest in the history of Waikato football. Then the result of the game was awaited with Interest by all New Zealand, for it, was the seejond ma.tch of the Springboks’ tour of the Dominion. CAMBRIDGE SUB-UNION.

MANAGEMENT MEETING. STAG CUP CONTEST. (Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE. Tuesday. At the weekly meeting: or the Cambridge Rugby sub-union last night, the president, Mr R. Brewer, presided over a good attendance. \ motion or sympathy with Mr and Mrs II D. Reese and ramll.v in their bereavement was carried, the members standing. The Central Committee wrote stating that the Hamilton sub-union suggested that the Stag games, to have been played on July 2(. and postponed on account or the Springboks’ match, be played on AugU The meeting did not ravour the suggestion and decided to recommend to the Central Committee that the games or the 241 h he played on Saturday, and that the remainder or the round continue in sequence over the remaining Saturdays. The Te Aroha suh-union wrote advising that the new Coulter Cup had been received ror competition between the representative teams or Te Aroha. Morrlnsvllle and Cambridge. A challenge from Cambridge was Invited and the committee was also asked tor suggested rules. It was decided to advise Te Aroha that Cambridge cannot challenge Tor the trophy this season. ? under stood that the match earlier in the season was Tor the cup and that there was some disappointment on the part or the players, who had been led to believe they were playing Tor the cup. Cucksey Cup.* Arising out or a report of the Cucksey Cup game at the Square on Saturday last, It was decided that the secretary write Matamata ar.d ask tor a complete set of rules, signed and dated. It was also decided to nominate Messrs. C.. Wallace and A. .1. Dotchtn as referees Tor the Cucksey Cup game against Tan ’’"Messrs, h. Rourke and T. Dagg were seniatlvc team lo play in the >priiigl»oks* In' the event'or Cambridge junior. I.eai ing Walpa in the re play or the Clark next in j Hie second nuiii'd" ir icidaliv'ely ' appoin'il'd mannlrrrs "iho Junior icam they have lo go to iiamilClosinq of Shops. to "the'meeting Hum Messrs. \v. n "lm '

wards and J Giles, who had undertaken ►the work or approaching the shopkeepM ' V iTm!e ,a,,,|, | 'not v' nl P t': n, cl7e Saturday's Fixtures. o'u'uU .'7be ,0 J un!o!- ,r 'ma«c,7’ , "n| Wednesday there will be no junior club K;l l’hb-d n,, .^de' ,l So I .mern v. llaui!t P u;| fourth grade representative selector. (

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