The police won a rugby match against Kelston Boys High 1st XV yesterday - but lost two players to injury.
With the final whistle sounding at 30-22, their team manager, Detective Sergeant Mark Osbourne, said it was "a narrow win that came at a cost".
He stressed that the decision
to play Kelston had nothing to do with the school's brawl against Auckland Grammar on August 15 which resulted in five Kelston players being banned for 10 to 16 months and four Grammar players for six weeks.
The Kelston players are appealing against the suspensions before the Auckland Rugby Union on September 19.
Mr Osbourne said yesterday's match was a warm-up to the Challenge Cup police tournament in Tauranga, starting on October 8.
But now the police will tackle the tournament minus two key players.
Their hooker, Constable Hayden Campbell of Avondale, landed badly on his neck and was taken to hospital with a "serious back injury".
"He was complaining of pain down the right-hand side of his body," said Mr Osbourne.
Captain and lock Detective Sergeant Reece Sirl, of Auckland metro crime and operations support, snapped his Achilles - describing the pain as "like being shot".
Injuries aside, Mr Osbourne said it was a good game with no trouble from the opposition.
A Kelston haka before kick-off and the landing of the police Eagle helicopter on the paddock at halftime provided a great atmosphere for the 200 or so people watching, he said.
Auckland Grammar's 1st XV will host the police next Wednesday.
