Barbarians Game Opens Gisborne's Fine New Football Ground at Park Domain

Views from the back of the stand look out (left) across the pleasant vista of the Park Golf Course, and (right) towards the Childers Road entrance.

The teams in the opening match, Poverty Bay v. Barbarians, before play started. Members of P.B. team, kneeling, were (left to right), R. Preston, G. Duncan, K. Williams, J. Penny, T. Donovan, W. Cooper, D. Mahai, A. Rowlands, J. Coulton, S. Rutene, W. Atkins, T. Riley, J. Paea, M. Wooster, R.A. White. At right is the referee, Mr B. Wolstenholme, president of the P.B. Union.

A notable occasion in the history of football in Gisborne took place on Jane 29 with the opening of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union's new ground at the Park Domain. Set in ideal surroundings at the south end of Childers Road, it is ranked as one of the finest in the world in the opinion of visiting players who have toured overseas. "As good as Twickenham any day", was the opinion expressed by Bob Scott, internationally-famed full back of the visiting Barbarians team on the day of the opening, seen at right leaving the field after the match.

Be that as it may, the P.B. Union has earned the commendation of players and the public alike for its enterprise in converting what was once a wilderness and a white elephant into an asset of which the whole district can be proud.

Looking across the ground to stand during the Barbarians match.

Rugby Union Management Committee members in working togs, photographed at the grounds on the Sunday morning prior to the opening. Front row: W. McKee (secretary), B. Wolstenholme (president), J. Baddeley, A. Toye, J. Candy. Back row: M. Lynch, M. Sharpe, E. Halstead, W. Carrington, J. Richards.

Mr Wolstenholme speaking at the official opening ceremony, with Management Committee members and (in front) Mr Reg Keeling, M.P., the Mayor, Mr H.H. Barker, who declared the ground open for play, and Mr L.V. Carmini, representing the New Zealand Rugby Union.

A picture of the stand taken before it was renovated, but after work was started on preparation of the ground.

Working bees attended to requirements in the way of fences etc.

65ft goal posts were hauled up by winch.

Wet, dull, or indifferent weather was the rule rather than the exception in June, so that when the 29th dawned bright and sunny, executives, players, and the great football public could scarcely believe their good fortune—especially the executives. The crowd came (above and left) in cars, on bikes, and on foot—6000 of them—and they came to see one of the best games in many a season. It was an auspicious opening for the new ground.

An incident from the play. All Black Catley, playing for the Barbarians, is deshirting Rowlands, on whom Manners also has a good grip. Directly over Rowlands, Ian Clark, another All Black, can be seen. P.B. players at right are Paea, Duncan and Penny.

Fast, open game de lighted spectators as score ran up to final tally of Barbarians 39 and Poverty Bay 26.

Cos sey and Penny converge on the ball.

Davis, the All Black captain of the Barbarians, scoops up the ball after a lineout.

R.A. White, P.B. All Black, is forced out in possession.

Manners and Paea contest the ball in a lineout.

Norman Lee, covering the match for 2XG, has almost an aerial view of the game from his eyrie in the stand.

Bob Scott, one of the world's best-known footballers, made a dash from Auckland by air, car, and bicycle to play for the Barbarians. He arrived in time to take the field during the first spell.

Bob is met at the airport by Mr Keith Wood-ward.

On the way to the Park Domain, he began process of changing into football togs.

Arrived at the ground, someone pushed a "bike" under his nose and suggested he complete the trip on it. To the delight of the crowd he fell in with the informality of the occasion and made his entrance on the "grid".

Two shots of Scott in action kicking goals from tries from near the side line.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 13 : July 28, 1955

Barbarians Game Opens Gisborne's Fine New Football Ground at Park Domain