Maori match ‘full house’

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 30

Maori match ‘full house’

PA Napier All seats, excepting those available to season ticketholders, have been sold for the Springboks-New Zealand Maoris rugby match at Napier’s McLean Park on August 25. The secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, Mr Dennis Smart, said to his knowledge it was unprecedented in Napier that all of the 15,400 seats would be sold three weeks before a game. "A decision will be made

later this week if standing room on the bank will be pre-sold. If it is, tickets will be available through the subunions and clubs. “The union has also decided against making seating available for schoolchildren. Since it is the school holidays, it will be over to their parents to decide whether they attend the match.” Mr Smart said a limited numbeer of paraplegics would be admitteed if they applied in writing to the union.

He said he had had meetings with the police and the Napier City council over security at McLean Park. Certain fences round the park would have to be fixed before the match. “The park is at present being patrolled regularly by the police and security will be stepped up nearer the match,” he said. “On the day of the match certain roads within about half a mile of the park will be closed- to vehicular traffic.”