A LONG TRIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23887, 15 August 1939, Page 6

A LONG TRIP

MOTOR BUS BREAKS DOWN FOOTBALL TEAM'S EXPERIENCE MAROONED IN A HAILSTORM (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Aug. 14. To be marooned for seven hours in a hailstorm when their bus broke down in the Waioeka Valley Gorge, about 3000 feet above sea level and 50 miles from Gisborne, was the experience of the Auckland B Rugby representatives on their way to play a match with Poverty Bay at Gisborne last week. The journey from Auckland began on Thursday night at six o'clock and occupied more than 24 hours in actual travelling time. After arriving at Gisborne at 12 o'clock on the day of the match the team was beaten by 25 points to 3. A member of the side said that none of the Auckland players blamed their defeat on the trip, nor was any blame attachable to the Rugby Union Most of them, however had very little sleep en route and this affected their stamina. After leaving Auckland on Thursday the team had tea at Hamilton and reached Rotorua shortly after midnight. They left again at 8.30 in the morning, and after lunching at Opitiki, left again on the 95-mile trio to Gisborne. Near Matawai. the bus broke down, and it was not until 11 o'clock that night that transport could be arranged to Matawai. Through the generosity of a neighbouring farmer, Mr Stafford, the team dined on tea and buns and later had a meal at the Matawai Hotel at 1.30 a.m A shortage of beds made it necessary for them to sleep as manv as four in a bed.

The return journey occupied over 18} hours, the team leaving at 8 o'clock on Sunday morning and reaching Auckland at half-past two this morning. ■