RUGBY - Historic match big score for Kerikeri

The go-ahead has been given for a one-off historic rugby match between Auckland and Northland at the Kerikeri Domain on August 15.
Northland rugby boss Andrew Golightly is thrilled the New Zealand Rugby Union has sanctioned Northland's first national championship game outside of Whangarei and he believes the the match will be popular with the public.
"We anticipate it will be a sell-out and something that fans will want and see, so we don't think tickets will last long once they go on sale," Mr Golightly said.
The NZRU decision to grant Northland's request to play the match in the mid-North flies in the face of recent rugby trends, which sees major games played in major stadiums.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the board was willing to consider Northland's request, given Okara Park was under development for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
"We recognise that a lot of work has taken place around New Zealand to prepare venues to Air New Zealand Cup standard in recent years, so this decision is not a shift in policy. However, given the situation that Northland has in terms of managing venues and the enthusiasm that exists in Northland and, in particular, in Kerikeri, for this fixture taking place there, we were happy to make this one-off allowance," Mr Tew said.
Mr Golightly said the second stage of planning with the Far North District Council would now kick in but he was unsure how many tickets would go on sale.
"There's been a figure of 10,000 touted but we'll just have to wait and see if that will eventuate or not," he said.
There will be more planning meetings where stakeholders can hammer out the details. "Now we'll be out to work together with the Far North District Council to ensure the game is a huge success for Northland as a region."
Toll United Trucks, one of the union's main sponsors, have already come up with the left-field proposal of hosting corporate hospitality areas on the back of flat-deck trucks.
"Certainly this match will be distinct from any other venue and we think that will only add to the interest of the event," Mr Golightly said.
The Northland team will play all of their pre-season games away from Whangarei, with their opening match in Rotorua on July 31. The Auckland match is their third match, with their first home match at Okara Park against Taranaki on August 6.