No troops at Ulster match

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 1

No troops at Ulster match

(From T. P. McLEAN)

BELFAST, November 17.

Not a soldier was to be seen nor was a loaded rifle visible as the All Blacks on Saturday helped to ease the sporting troubles of beleaguered Belfast by playing and beating Ulster by 30 points to 15.

By contrast to the extremely tight security of the game on the same ground two years ago when soldiers in armoured cars were placed at strategic positions, all control was vested in members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The boots of cars entering the public car park were checked but there was no sign of a search of those entering the ground. A leading official of Ulster Rugby, Mr D. M. McKibben, said that police intelligence in Belfast was efficient and aC “Not e a threat or whisper against the All Blacks has been heard. We were all perfectly confident no trouble I would occur,” he said.

“However, precautions were taken. They have to be in this part of the world — but we were sure that all would be well,” said Mr McKibben.

Tributes to-the New Zealanders for once more honouring ’ their engagements with Ulster were many and profuse. Ute president of the Irish Rugby Union, Mr H. McKibben, added a fervent “God bless” to the All Black captain, A. R. Leslie, as he distributed presents of shirts, linen handkerchiefs, beer mugs, and packs of cards to the All Blacks. The captain of Ulster, W. J. Mcßride, who returned from London on Friday after receiving the “Daily Express” award of “Sportsman of the Year” as a tribute to his leadership of the Lions in South Africa, was cautious in his tributes to the All Blacks. “My lads did well in the line-out; we won ball off them. In the old days we could not do that,” Mcßride said.