Fox has record chance

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 41

Fox has record chance

PA Auckland All Black first five-eighth Grant Fox will have a chance to break the points record by a New Zealander when Auckland defend the Ranfurly Shield against Otago at Eden Park today. The Canterbury and All Black fullback, Fergie McCormick, has the record of 2065 points. Fox, in about as half as many games as McCormick played, needs only five points to set a record. At his last practice, Fox was on the sideline, suffering a bad cold, but he is expected to be fit for the game. In the meantime, Otago interest in the challenge is building, even if only a small number of supporters will travel to Auckland. “If the match was at Christchurch or Timaru there would be 10,000 Otago people there,” said John Dowling,.

the Otago Rugby Union chairman. "But getting to Auckland would represent an outlay of about $BOO for air fares and

accommodation for each supporter, and that is a lot of money.” Dowling denied a news media ban had been placed on the Otago team. , “The players said they would prefer not to be interviewed; they wanted a quiet week. "However, as far as I know Laurie Mains, the coach, was available for the usual media comments.” The Auckland Rugby Union executive director, Lew Pryme, said: "Ticket sales early in the week were very slow, perhaps because the weather was bad.” They picked up a little today, with the better weather. “So we might be looking at a crowd of 30,000. “I would hope the public of Auckland would do that, or better, as Otago are definitely the big challenge of the season so far.”