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Terrible conditions marred what was set to be a high calibre event with the rugby multi-clash at the Mahurangi Rugby Football Club (MRFC) on June 20.
The Blues, North Harbour, Auckland and Northland all competed, playing each other in shortened 40-minute games.
MRFC chair Ian Bradnam says conditions put a damper on the event, but he was still pleased for the club to host professional rugby sides for the second time this year.
“The weather was disgusting and that had a huge influence on the crowd numbers,” Bradnam says.
“That is something we can’t control, though. We were still pleased to get this opportunity as hosts, which was less intensive for our club to organise than the Super Rugby game earlier this year.”
Participating players included Jerome Kaino and Bryn Gatland. Graham Henry and Warren Gatland watched from the sidelines.
Kaino says his side will likely return to play at the Warkworth Showgrounds in future.
“We had a good pre-season game at Mahurangi and it’s a fantastic facility,” he says.
“I’m sure our club will want to play here again as the ground is ideally placed between North Harbour and Northland.”
Kaino also liked the format of having multiple teams play each other, seeing it as a good warm up for the Mitre Ten Cup season that starts in August.
North Harbour came out on top at the event, beating Northland 5-0, Auckland 10-0 and drawing 0-0 with the Blues.
