Test Battle To Start Outside Newlands

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 14

Test Battle To Start Outside Newlands

(From T. P. McLEAN)

CAPE TOWN.

Western Province, traditionally the home of South African Rugby, may be in danger of losing its place as a test match ground if the convulsions about tickets for the second test on Saturday prove as frightful as is now feared.

The Western Province union has been told many times that it ought to do something about dressing up Newlands as a test match ground, but never have the statements been quite so strident as now.

The special trouble is that although the ground ean hold 55,000 spectators, it can seat only 15,000—and the demand for seats is now hysterical. Even the House of Parliament has come in on the difficulties. In accordance with normal practice, the deputy chief whip of the Nationalist Party (Mr Jan Visse) two months ago asked the union for the normal allocation for members and staff of the House of 300 tickets.

Recently, he learned that the allocation had been cut to 100.

“I will need the judgment of Solomon,” Mr Visse said, “to work out which of our 166 members ought to get seats.”

The New Zealand wrestling team, which has incurred the wrath of anti-apartheid people by venturing to South Africa, is another body which has caused knitted brows. TEST AT NIGHT

The team is to wrestle South Africa in a test match at Cape Town on Saturday night, and the South African Wrestling Association has asked for tickets for the Kiwis.

They will be given—but someone is going to miss out as a consequence.

The Rugby union has published what reads like a battle order for the struggle to get into the ground that seems bound to occur. AU streets surrounding

N.Z. Wrestlers Beaten

(N.Z. P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

JOHANNESBURG. The New Zealand amateur wrestling team was beaten, 5*4, by Transvaal on Monday night. Results (South Africans named first) were:—

Fly-weight.—C. Holder lost to B. McMahon (fall).

Bantam-weight.—N. Prince lost to R. Astrella (fall).

Welter-weight.—P. Fourie beat G. Mackay (points); F. Nel beat J. Stanley (points). Middle-weight.—P. Hatting lost to D. Aspin (fall); E. Webber beat G. Walker (points). Light Heavy-weight.—P. Gravonsky lost to M. Mcßeth (retired injured).

Heavy-weight.—D. Coetzer beat W. Hubber (points). Extra Heavy-weight.—W. Labuschagne beat T. Milat (fall).

Newlands are to be barricaded on Friday night Only holders of parking tickets and ground passes will be allowed through the barriers. “BOUNCERS” ON DUTY No queueing is to be allowed around tbe ground before 7 a.m. on Saturday, and queue organisers—for which read “bouncers”—are to be employed to check queuejumping. The union won’t allow boxes, chairs, ladders and other leg-me-ups to be taken past the barricades. Radios are banned, and there are restrictions on standing in aisles, passageways, etc. However, the union has decided not to follow the lead

of Pretoria by refusing to permit liquor on the ground. Bars will be open but patrons are being sternly told they cannot take grog away from them.

The most interesting features of the test match may well be the side-shows, not ■the main event. But unions in other parts of the country are not amused. The pressure on Western Province is certain to be heavy when the tout is reviewed.

Hockey Drawn.—Nelson College and Linwood High School drew. 1-1. tn their annual hockey match. L. Brown scored for Neleon from a rebound after a penalty corner and Linwood equalised through R. Whitmore from a penalty corner.