Some defy ban at match

Press, 7 February 1985, Page 9

Some defy ban at match

By

SARAH SANDS

Suntan lotion bottles outnumbered beer cans at yesterday’s one-day cricket match, but only just. Some people managed to defy the ban on alcohol being brought into Lancaster Park and smuggled a few cans of beer through, in spite of bag searches at the gates. The only areas where alcohol could legally be bought and drunk were under No. 1 stand and in an enclosed booth on the south ground. The match could not be viewed from either of these places.

After half-time some people tried to sneak cans out of the south booth by carefully wrapping them in T-shirts or concealing them in bags but most of them

were caught by a front rank of Lancaster Park officials and a second rank of police. Attempts to pass cans to others outside the enclosure were also curtailed.

Temperatures soared to a maximum 30.9 deg. and the St John Ambulance Brigade was kept busy dealing with sunburn and headaches caused by the strong sun.

Zinc cream and coconut oil appeared to be the order of the day.

A Television New Zealand crewman, who fell about four metres from the television stand at the side of No. 5 stand was treated for bruises and sent home.

Only one arrest was made during the day. A man ran on to the field and almost the full length of it to shake John Reid by the

hand at the end of Reid s innings. On his return down the field, the man was chased by two plainclothes policemen and apprehended in mid-field.

A commentator, not realising that of the 100 police at the match seven had attended in jogging shorts, shirts, and running shoes, then asked that the "spectators” leave the field.

They left. The enthusiastic cricket fan was charged with disorderly behaviour.

Inspector Graham Clewer said that all in all, it had been a good day. The man in charge of the south ground booth said that having alcohol strictly controlled had been more than effective. The biggest problem had been those people trying to take beer cans

from the enclosure, he said. About 30 staff had been working in the booth.

Mr Arthur Erdman, of the Lancaster Park Sports Club, said that he was happy with the way the booths had been run. Some liquor had been smuggled in but this had been confined to the embankment.

There had been many family groups on the embankment who had enjoyed the match. The type of people who had caused trouble in recent years had been noticeably absent, he said.

Mr Charlie Rhodes, of the Victory Park Board, said he was more than happy with the events of the day. The police had been very helpful and the board’s staff had worked well.