Fans urged to arrive early [Nelson Mail]
Rugby fans wanting to show their support for the Tasman Makos in their ITM Cup final on Friday night are being urged to rock up early to Nelson's Trafalgar Park.
The covered west stand is already sold out for the game against Hawke's Bay Magpies, and the Tasman Rugby Union hopes for a crowd of more than 8000.
Tasman's acting chief executive Les Edwards said the gates would open at 5.30pm, and a rugby sevens game would be played between Nelson College A and B teams from 5.45pm.
Live music by Johnnie Cameron will play from 6.15pm to 6.45pm when the teams will be on the field. The national anthem will be sung at 7.30pm and kickoff will be at 7.35pm.
"We urge people not to leave it to the last minute to arrive at the ground or they are going to be left outside the gates," said Mr Edwards. "They should come early and enjoy the entertainment."
MPs are also getting behind their home teams, sparking some rivalry.
"We normally get on very well with Hawkes Bay and Nelson Marlborough having so much in common but tensions are a bit high this week," Nelson MP Nick Smith says.
"There's been lots of jokes about Makos and Magpies by colleagues.
"There will be bottles of wine crossing the Cook Strait one way or another next week on the back of the result."
Dr Smith and Napier MP Chris Tremain have a bottle of sauvignon blanc riding on it while a bottle of pinot noir is at stake between Kaikoura MP Colin King and Tukituki MP Craig Foss.
The MPs expect Friday night to be "a great spectacle for provincial rugby".
"Our region should be hugely proud of how well the Makos have done this year to get into the final," Dr Smith says.
"I'm really looking forward to attending Friday's match and hope to see a really good turnout of Nelsonians at Trafalgar Park to give our team the best possible hometown advantage."
Buy tickets at makos.co.nz
