Behaviour far from sporting

East Otago High School principal Lennox Sharp holds two of the clods of earth torn up by a vehicle on the high school sports fields in Palmerston overnight on Thursday.

The damage, estimated to be worth more than $1000, was done to the school's rugby and hockey grounds, possibly by a four-wheel drive.

It would take some time to restore the grounds for use again by rugby and hockey matches, he said.

Senior Constable Stefan Witehira, of Palmerston, said the damage was spread over a wide area of the field.