Lions don’t like ball-boys

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32666, 23 July 1971, Page 24

Lions don’t like ball-boys

(From J. K. BROOKS)

GISBORNE.

The British Lions have two pet hates about New Zealand Rugby—the use of ball-boys and the playing of curtain-raisers before big games on heavy grounds.

The visiting side was plainly disturbed by the try scored by R. J. Ussher for Poverty BayEast Coast on Wednesday. after a quick throwin by the side’s rightwing. A. J. Cross.

The Lions’ manager (Dr D. W. C. Smith) and the coach (Mr C. R. James) believe that Cross was handed a fresh ball by the ball boy after the Lions’ captain, S. J. Dawes, had made a clearing kick across the side-line. Mr James said the laws of the game allowed a quick throw-in, provided that the ball which went into touch was used, and it was handled only by the players. To other observers, it

seemed that Cross retrieved the ball which Dawes had kicked, but that it was thrown towards him by a spectator. Mr James said he spoke to the referee (Mr R. E. Courtney) before the game and said the Lions’ only request was that the ball-boys should place the ball by the sideline for the wings to pick up before a line-out. “But you cannot really blame young lads for forgetting such a request, if they have always been used to throwing the spare ball to the wings,” he said. COLOUR CLASH “We don’t understand your use of ball-boys,” said Dr Smith. “We don’t have them in Britain. Also, in many matches, they are wearing the same colours as the home side.”

There could be no mistaking the boys at Gisborne. They wore scarlet jerseys, while the combined team wore sky blue.

Mr James said that he had no other criticisms to offer on points of law. “I am happy with the refereeing and the interpretations,” he said. "They have been most satisfactory throughout the tour.”

USE IN TOUR REPORT Ball-boys and curtain-raisers on heavy grounds would be two points he would raise in his tour report, Dr Smith said.

“Provided that the pitch is firm, there is no reason why curtain-raisers should not be played,” he said. “But when there has been wet weather —such as at Masterton and Gisborne—these preliminary games only chum up the ground. , “Why, at Twickenham and Murrayfield, the ground is not played on for three weeks before an interna, tional.

“I must say I was surprised they allowed the cur-tain-raiser to be played on Wednesday. Being British, I felt it was a bit much on that ground.”