Small Shield parade crowd has ball

Mike Bishop (left), Craig Philpott, TV3 cameraman Simon Nixon, Brendon O'Connor and Ash Dixon taking part in the Magpies rugby team parade of the Ranfurly Shield through Tennyson St, Napier, yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Yesterday's rugby parade in Napier may have been a bit flat, but for the small crowd that turned out for the procession there was a cloud with a silver lining.

Players tossed and kicked small Magpies-emblemed balls into the supporters as about 10 vehicles in the parade wended from Tennyson St, into Hastings, Emerson and Dalton streets soon after 4pm.

Which meant there were plenty to go around, making up for some of the disappointment of one great-grandmother who had come from Hastings to see her TV footy heroes in the flesh.

"I watch on TV, you can see much more," said the woman, wishing to be identified only as Colleen.

When she arrived there was no crowd, and she had to ask in the shops when the parade was coming by. To add to her disappointment, some of the staff didn't know there was one.

She was appeased moments later as she and daughter Kay stood outside the shops in Emerson St, and a couple of balls landed at their feet - one each for the youngest of her multi generations, pre-schoolers Nico and Connor.

She gaped when she saw Ihaia West, having only before seen him on TV, and she shivered at what might have happened had he missed "that" kick when the Magpies drew the last Ranfurly Shield defence 20-all with Southland nine days earlier.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union marketing and commercial manager Jay Campbell wasn't particularly disappointed at the turnout, saying there were supporters at most places along the route from the starting point at Hawke's Bay Toyota in Carlyle St, and at the finish at McLean Park, probably the last time the squad will be together at their favourite ground.

But it was never expected the crowd would match those which turned out in Napier and Hastings when Hawke's Bay won the Ranfurly Shield in 2013 for the first time in almost half-a-century, nor those who welcomed the current team home after they won the shield back again in August.

"Nothing beats winning the Ranfurly Shield," Mr Campbell said.

Three boxes of the balls were dispensed, - at least 200, Mr Campbell estimated.

Back at the park, the temporary seating used for the September 6, All Blacks-Argentina test and the four successful Magpies defences of the Ranfurly Shield that followed was fast disappearing. The temporary grandstand is expected to be gone by the end of the week.

Catch bus to final in Palmy

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union hopes at least one busload of supporters will head to Palmerston North for the Magpies' 2014 swansong in the ITM Cup Championship final against Manawatu.

But Magpie fans have just a few hours to book, with the union saying registrations for the bus close at midday today.

The union and bus company Nimon have put together a deal costing $50 for the bus and a ticket to the match at FMG Stadium which starts at 7.35pm.

"Buses will depart from the main carpark at McLean Park in Napier at 3pm [on Friday] then BP Stortford Lodge in Hastings at 3.30pm and return straight after the game," a union representative said yesterday.

Tickets for the bus-and-match tickets are available only by contacting the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, or email hayley@hbrugby.co.nz