Ranfurly Shield match to draw crowds

PRIZE: The Magpies aim to hang on to the Ranfurly Shield.

Ticket sales continue to climb as Hawke's Bay rugby fans seek to pack the park and watch their Magpies defend the Ranfurly Shield at McLean Park on Sunday.

After the successful and sold-out All Blacks versus Argentina test match at the Napier ground last Saturday, another big crowd was expected for the first Shield defence against Otago, Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said yesterday.

"Tickets are selling really well. We have sold about 7200 and hope to pack the park."

He said that, while in-field temporary seating used to help bolster Saturday night's test match crowd to over 23,000 was being removed, the 9500-seat temporary embankment stand remained, with adults able to buy tickets in the stand for $12.50 and children at $7.50.

"We hope to pack it out and make it a cauldron, and make sure we keep the shield in Hawke's Bay," Mr Campbell said.

The Magpies lost the shield to Counties-Manukau in a 27-24 thriller last year, just six days after a one-point trophy-winning victory over Otago in Dunedin. But they redeemed themselves this season and won it back from the Steelers at Pukekohe on August 30.

Before last year's triumph, the province last won the shield on September 24, 1966, and held it for 21 defences until September 27, 1969 - a feat the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union strives to reproduce.

MetService forecasts the weather for Sunday's match will be showers, with a developing southwesterly and a high of 17C.

The curtain-raiser for the big game will see the region's future stars play for the Hawke's Bay U16 team as they take on Poverty Bay U16.

Hawke's Bay's other ITM Cup matches at McLean Park - all shield defences if the Magpies retain the coveted trophy - are against Bay of Plenty on Saturday, September 20, at 2.35pm; Wellington on Wednesday, October 1, at 7.35pm; and Southland on October 11, at 5.35pm.