Misty-eyed rugby fans desert ground for TV

Spectators at last night's sell-out Super 14 final left early - because they couldn't see the game in the thickly fogged evening.

Herald on Sunday rugby writer Gregor Paul, speaking from Jade Stadium, said: "From what I can see, people have left the ground - especially those sitting up high.

"I was finding it hard to see and those sitting right up top must not have been able to see a thing.

"It's a sellout so they couldn't come down lower. I'd say they've gone home to watch it on TV."

Paul said it was difficult to see from one side of the ground to the other and, even 30-40m away from Jade Stadium, normally brightly lit at night, he couldn't see the floodlights because of the thick fog.

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said last night that the decision to go ahead with the game had been made after consultation with all interested parties - including the players, match officials and broadcasters.

He said a kick-off at a later time last night had been considered but the weather forecast suggested that conditions could worsen.

Playing the match today was not an option "because of all the arrangements that people have to make to make it on another occasion," Riach said.

People who had bought tickets for the Saturday game but who might not be able to attend on Sunday, travel arangements, the media and other considerations all meant that the game could not be pushed back a day.