No distractions from Battle

Hawke's Bay Magpies No17 Jason Long. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Rugby officials are gearing for a packed park at this weekend's Battle of the Bays, despite the match clashing with the Spring Racing Carnival and the General Election.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said there had been a "mad rush" for tickets to this Saturday's Magpies game against Bay of Plenty after the team defeated Otago on Sunday night. Ticket sales for Saturday's game had reached 5000. Following the spike in ticket sales at fulltime on Sunday, yesterday's sales were more sluggish, with just 300 tickets sold.

Mr Campbell didn't believe the Spring Racing Carnival's second race meeting or the General Election, which both also fall on Saturday, would detract from crowd numbers.

"Traditionally we've had fantastic attendance for Saturday and Sunday 2.35pm games."

He advised punters of the additional cost of purchasing tickets on game day, suggesting it was cheaper to buy in advance.

Two thousand tickets were purchased on game day alone on Sunday. More than 11,000 fans turned out for the Otago match and a larger crowd is expected this weekend.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecaster Philip Duncan said Saturday was shaping up to be a warm, windy day, with a 50 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon.

Punters could expect northwesterly winds gusting at times and a daytime high in Napier of about 18C.

"Fingers crossed the showers come after the game and it's a nice, warm and windy afternoon."