Vandals smash galposts

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 1

Vandals smash galposts

A meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s grounds committee tonight will decide whether to replace $5OO goalposts smashed by vandals in South Hagley Park last Saturday. The convener of the committee, Mr S. R. Williams, said that he would like to replace the posts. A complaint had been laid with the police.

“The posts are only good for marking 10-a-side fields now,” he said. Twelve upright posts and six crossbars were made useless. Mr Williams said that some form of tool, perhaps a saw or an axe, had been used, because the posts were “solid.” The posts, which were on lower grade grounds, were uprooted.

The secretary-manager of the Victory Park Board (Mr C. H. J. Rhodes) confirmed last evening that herbicide had been sprayed on the southern end of Lancaster Park, and had killed grass. Some of the playing area had been affected by the anti tour slogans sprayed on. Mr Rhodes believed that the spraying occurred before

security was intensified at the park three weeks ago, although he said that the damage could have been done more recently. Security patrols might have been eluded by the offenders.

Herbicide has also been i put on the surface of Rugby! Park. “Rember Gleneagles”} (a mis-spelling) has been' burnt into the grass.