Rugby and cricket stars put on a show at McLean Park for Napier crowd. Photo / Ian Cooper
Rugby and cricket stars put on a show at McLean Park for Napier crowd. Photo / Ian Cooper
It may not have been a sell out at McLean Park for the Hot Spring Spas T20 Black Clash, but the noise surely made up for the empty seats.
The match itself was never going to be of the highest calibre of cricket but all the crowd wanted was to be entertained, and that's what they got.
With the cricket gods playing their part and the sun peaking through, the embankment at the stadium became the place to be as it was flooded with Hawke's Bay families.
Cheers seemed to back Team Rugby continuously through the early stages. The roar could be heard from Hospital Hill as Jordie Barrett knocked over Stephen Fleming in the first over.
The crowd only got louder as the match went on and the game got tighter and tighter, and former Sri Lankan and CD Stag's player Mahela Jayawardene lifted them to their feet almost winning the game for Team Rugby only to be caught on the last ball by Australian comedian Andy Lee in the deep.
Dylan West (left), Amelia,6, and Lucian, 10, enjoy a spa while watching the cricket. Photo / Ian Cooper
The crowd enjoyed not only the cricketing action but a lucky few had the chance to enjoy the match from the comfort of a spa.
Dylan West and his children Lucian, 10, and Amelia, 6, were one of the lucky few who enjoyed the special treat after managing to grab one of the HotSpring T-shirts shot into the crowd.
"Yea we got a bit lucky getting these and it just makes it a bit of a different way to watch the cricket," West said.
Travis Young (left) and Steve Seipolt enjoy the cricket from their raft seats. Photo / Ian Cooper
The kids had a clear favourite, team backing Team Rugby but it was just a fun family day for West.
"We're not here expecting the best cricket but just a good day of entertainment and family fun, it also makes it a bit better for Lucian because it's his tenth birthday today."
It was Travis Young's his first cricketing experience and although it was a bit different from what he has seen on TV he enjoyed himself none the less.
"The scores are a bit different from what I've seen on TV but it's been a good day out and everyone seems to be getting into it."
Jordie Barrett got things off in style bowling Stephen Fleming in the first over. Photo / Ian Cooper
With the general unspoken laws of the cricket embankment of low appropriate seating Young and his mate Steve Seipolt went for a slightly different approach instead of the cheap low lying seats.
"Those seats don't tend to fit our kilogram margin so we bought these cheap rafts and we even have our paddles so we can go in to bat if needed," Young said.
Many of the older generations in the crowd enjoyed the refreshments on offer, but security and police at the grounds said they were happy with the behaviour of those attending, with only minor issues encountered.
