RUGBY FIELDS

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 8

RUGBY FIELDS

Wrong Grasses Used SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN’S VIEW. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 30. While not desiring to appear in the role of a critic, Mr. P. J. Nel, the South African Rugby captain stated to-day that he did not consider that tire most suitable grasses were used on New Zealand Rugoy fields. “The grasses on the fields which I have seen so far come straight up out of the ground,” said Mr. Nel, and do not provide a surface that will stand up to play in wet weather. I feel that the grasses that we use in South Africa would effect a big improvement. These grasses, the main one of which is kikuyu, spread over runners, and these runners form a the ground by means of stolens, or dense mat, which, while it allows the water to pass through freely, prevents the ground from churning up into mud. SUITABLE FOR NEW ZEALAND Mr. Nel stated that the English • grass Richmond lawn and a type of couch gave good results in South Africa, but were not quite as good as kikuyu. It was necessary to Keep kikuyu well and continuously cut during the spring and summer in order to ensure the denseness of the mat. Prior to 1924 all games in the Transvaal were played on dirt fields,. the surface of which had to be loosened before the commencement of games. These had been planted in kikuyu and had now ideal playing surfeces. When questioned regarding frosts, Mr. Nel stated that kikuyu had stood up to severe Transvaal frosts and he felt sure that with New Zealand’s richer soil and milder weather it would do even better, especially if topdressed with fertiliser. GOOD CRICKET OUTFIELD. It was pointed out to Mr. Nel that cricket was played on New Zealand football grounds during the summer, but he stated that this was the case in South Africa, but kikuyu provided a'splendid outfield and the portion for the pitch was dug up and other turf substituted during the cricket season. Mr. Nel’s remarks were supported by Mr. L. C. Strachan, who was most enthusiastic regarding the results achieved in the Transvaal. “I feel,” concluded Mr. Nel, “that a big improvement could be effected in the surfaces of your grounds by the introduction of this grass. It would certainly prevent playing in the quagmire that we experienced at Hamilton on Wednesday. These grounds, under wet conditions, constitute one of the biggest problems that our team is up against. We will overcome this but I feel that the position could be avoided by the planting of this grass.”