Vandalised scoreboard big blow for rugby club

The electronic scoreboard at Anderson Park in Cromwell - a $25,000 centennial project funded by the Cromwell Rugby Club - has been damaged beyond repair.

Vandals recently broke all the electronic panels in the scoreboard, which was installed 25 years ago.

The rugby club will celebrate its 125th anniversary in April and past president Jason Clark said he was unsure whether the equipment was covered by insurance. If not, the club could not afford to replace it.

''We put it up to mark our centenary and it cost $25,000 when we installed it 25 years ago.

''Who knows how much it would cost now? It would be a major expense.''

The scoreboard was used by other sporting codes which share the park, particularly cricketers, he said.

''We haven't been able to find out yet if it's covered by insurance but it's certainly beyond repair as it is - 100% damaged, every electronic part broken.''

Cromwell police head Simon Paget said the scoreboard and the nearby Cromwell Sports Club's building were both damaged on December 29. Many panels on the outside of the building were damaged. Mr Clark said rugby, cricket, netball, basketball, soccer, badminton and rowing teams were among the users.

He said exterior panels ''right around the building'' had been damaged, along with clear-lights in the roof and guttering.

The clear-lights and guttering were recently upgraded. The combined sports building, which he described as '' a real community building'', was covered by insurance.

''The Lions club uses it and it's used by a heap of other organisations as well, like the Blood Service.''

Sgt Paget said two youths had been arrested in connection with the incidents.

A 17-year-old Gore youth appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to the Invercargill District Court on January 11. An 18-year-old Cromwell youth will appear in the Alexandra District Court on January 16. Both face charges of intentional damage, burglary and possession of equipment capable of being used to steal a vehicle, Sgt Paget said.

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz