New Zealand band Shihad entertains a packed terrace at
Carisbrook on Saturday night. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
It is smiles all round in Highlanders country.
The rugby team scored a gritty 6-0 victory over last year's
champions, the Crusaders, rockers Shihad kept a packed
terrace entertained and, importantly, spectators turned up in
good numbers.
Though the exact crowd number would not be known until today,
estimates put it at between 12,000 and 13,000.
With average crowds of only 7000 last year, a crowd nearly
double that had Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid
smiling.
Mr Reid questioned last week whether Dunedin had enough
support to keep the Highlanders but he got the answer he and
die-hard rugby fans wanted on Saturday night.
There were long queues outside the ground as the match
started and some tickets were still being sold nearly half an
hour into the game.
The terrace was packed, mostly with students, who enjoyed the
game and Shihad.
Police made no arrests.
Mr Reid was thrilled with the turnout and with the win,
saying the crowd had faith in the Highlanders and the team
had repaid them with a gutsy win.
The union had wanted a crowd of about 10,000, so to get more
than that was a bonus.
The good weather helped, as did the attraction of the band,
and a southern derby.
The win showed how competitive the side was, which was vital
to keep supporters coming along.
Mr Reid hoped for a big crowd at Invercargill on Saturday
night when the side takes on another New Zealand side, the
Chiefs.
There are two more games at Carisbrook this season, against
South African sides the Stormers and Cheetahs, while a home
game will be played at Palmerston North against the Bulls on
March 28.
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