FOOTBALLERS AND MUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 10

FOOTBALLERS AND MUD.

"TERRIBLE" CAR JOURNEY. TEAM FORCED TO WALK. Telephoning from Lake Rotoiti, Nelson, last Thursday, the Marlborough Express representative with the Rugby representatives, who were proceeding to Westport in quest of the Seddon Shield, reported that the team had had a terrible trip so far, the road between Connor's Creek and the foot of the Topbouse Hill being practically impassable. Tho team left Blenheim at eight o'clock in two cars and all went well until Connor's Creek was passed. From this on, to the Six Mile Bridges, the road, under tho influence of heavy traffic, following on falls of snow and phenomenal rain, had been converted into a sticky quagmire,- the mud being about 18in, deep and of a porridge-like consistency. Members of the team had to leave tho cars and walk over this distance, while the cars themselves had to abandon the road at several points and make detours across country. ■

The journey from Connor's Creek to the hill, normally covered in about a-quarter of an hour, occupied over an hour and a-half, and the team did not reach Lake Rotoiti until 11.10 a.m. Here the billy was boiled, but the weather was very bleak and cold. Snow was falling only a few feet above the lake level.