Website of the YearBRUCE CUTLER
A pash at the one-day bash just wasn't cricket, according to security officials at Napier's Mclean Park yesterday.
As music played over the loudspeakers between overs during the Sri Lankan innings, two women stood up on the Morris Street end of the cricket ground, danced and then kissed, to much cheering as it was screened on the big-screen monitor at McLean Park.
Like a jilted lover a large security official strode into the crowd to stop the kissing.
Richelle Fitzgibbon, 29, of Napier, who was one of the kissers spoken to by security officials, said it was her first time at a live cricket match and she was having "a bit of fun" when she locked lips with Kelly Holdway, 20, of Clive.
"I doubt it would have distracted the players," Ms Fitzgibbon, mother of three children, said of the kiss.
"The security guy came up and said that we were distracting the crowd and we would get kicked out if we did it again." "I thought if it was a guy and a girl kissing, would they have done that?
"I had a great time. It was a bit of fun and I was just trying to make it a bit more enjoyable.
"I wouldn't kiss an unattractive girl - I do draw the line."
Kissing partner Kelly said she was also dancing between overs whenever the music came on because "that's what it's all about - having fun".
"I thought it would bother my boyfriend more than anything (kissing another woman) but he said 'go for it'," Miss Holdway said.
"When I sat down the security guy came over and said 'that'll be enough of that'.
"My boyfriend was quite shocked. He couldn't believe it. It just got a bit overboard. It was all in fun."
"A guy threw a plastic cup at the security guy and another guy threw a bottle.
"It was sort of unfair. The police took away the guy who threw the cup.
"I don't see what the problem is with having fun."
Members of Napier's gay community, who asked not to be named, were outraged at the suggestion that it was okay to bowl a maiden over - but only if you were a man.
They struggled to see how a spirited kiss - between couples of any sexual preference or gender - could cause offence.
"That's ridiculous in this day and age," one woman snapped. "Tell him to get a life."
In any case, discrimination against gay men and women was illegal, said another.
A prominent gay Napier man questioned whether other motives were at play.
"Maybe he (the guard) was a member of Destiny Church."
Redback Security spokesman Andy Gollings said the women's amorous behaviour had "upset two of my more sensitive staff".
"It got the boys riled up, to be honest," Mr Gollings said.
"They (the women) were putting on a bit of a show for the crowd and the guys thought it was best they toned it down."
He admitted no-one had complained about the pair. Only Redback staff had been offended.
When Mr Gollings became aware they had confronted the women, he told his team: "Let it happen and we'll deal with any problems later."
He denied Ms Fitzgibbon and Ms Holdway were ever in danger of being told to leave.
Central Districts Cricket Association chief executive Blair Furlong said he thought the day of cricket was "fantastic" and said he actually laughed when he saw the two girls kissing on the big screen.
He described the actions of the security guard as "overzealous".
"If that's the only negative out of the game then it was a good day," Mr Furlong said.
"I would apologise and ask the girls to come back again to enjoy themselves at the cricket again."
Mr Furlong said only four people were evicted from the ground during the match for disorderly behaviour. The new alcohol protocol of serving light beer for the second half of the match had worked well in containing drunken behaviour.
Police said two people were arrested yesterday, one for disturbing the peace and one for trespass.
Hawkes Bay Today