Breath-testing for college match

LATEST: A line of police officers armed with breath testers guarded the gates to Christ's College today as thousands of spectators arrived for the annual rugby clash with Christchurch Boys' High.

A handful of people were turned away from the game after testing positive for alcohol, after compulsory breath testing was introduced at the fixture this year after drunken fans caused problems at previous encounters, including a brawl involving dozens of spectators last year.

Not everyone was happy, however.

David Rankin was admitted to the ground but thought it was wrong that spectators were breath tested. "Why should an elite private school be able to do this with the New Zealand police force?"

Kelvin Victor and John O'Cain told One News they were old boys who had been attending the annual fixture for 60 years.

"It is quite unfair because we're tidy citizens," said Mr Victor.

"I'm not prepared to go," said Mr O'Cain. "Frankly I think it's a bit over the top."

Christchurch area commander Inspector Derek Erasmus said some of the about 20 officers at the game were tasked with testing all non-students arriving for the match.

Anyone with alcohol on their breath was to be turned away, but only a handful of people from the crowd of 4000 to 4500 were refused entry.

"There were no issues at the game, no issues before the game, and there were no issues after the game," Mr Erasmus told NZPA.

"The six or seven who were refused entry tried to talk their way in, they were a bit grumpy about it. But they knew the rules before they'd arrived, they just thought they'd try it on."

Only one gave police "a bit of minor abuse," he said.

"He'd just come straight from the pub, thought he's try his luck, knew what the story was and wasn't getting in."

Mr Erasmus said the alcohol ban was "very well publicised", which contributed to the low number of people trying their luck.

"They all knew what the story was, and funnily enough they all managed to enjoy the game."

The principals of both schools were happy with the outcome, Mr Erasmus said.

"That cycle of bad or disorderly behaviour from some people had to be broken, and I'm happy that that's happened today."

Police would hold a debriefing session with the schools to determine whether breath-testing would be used at future events.

"It might be something we have to carry on for several years until people get used to the fact that it's a rugby game rather than a place to go out when you're drunk," Mr Erasmus said.

Council of Civil Liberties chairman Tony Ellis, speaking to TV3, questioned the need to test people who were obviously not going to cause any trouble, such as older rugby supporters.

One such supporter, who was turned away after drinking wine with his lunch, David Rankin, questioned why an elite private school should be using the police to enforce the school's wishes. He told TV3 the restriction was "wrong".

However, Christ's College headmaster Simon Leese told NZPA the outcome "could not have been better".

"It's a very important statement that's been made here today about the tone and standard of interschool sport," he said."The atmosphere was transformed here today, and everyone - young spectators, older spectators , members of both schools - had a wonderful afternoon."

Mr Leese said he hoped other schools would follow the example.

Boys' High won the annual fixture 25-12.

"It was a showpiece of interschool rugby," Mr Leese said. "It was a very good contest, it was close, as the stats would have predicted. But I think we'd all agree the winner today was school rugby."

- NZPA