Fierce rivalry drawcard

MARK TAYLOR/The Waikato Times

GREEN, GOLD AND PROUD: Owen Dunstone was one of a sprinkling of Australian cricket fans at Hamilton's Seddon Park last night for the third match in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

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The Merv Hughes tour group turned up for the right game – at least as far as they were concerned.

The more than 30 Australian cricket supporters led by Australian fast-bowling legend Merv Hughes had the last laugh at Seddon Park last night, as Ricky Ponting's team strolled to an easy victory in the third match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

The Australian Sports Tour party, noticeable in matching white shirts and yellow Australian hats, arrived in New Zealand on Monday afternoon for their 18-day package tour, and would have left the ground happy after a substandard Black Caps performance allowed Australia a 2-1 lead in the series.

Yorke Peninsula farmer Luke Schulze, on his first tour with the company, said he'd been compelled to come because of the fierce trans-Tasman rivalry. He believed the New Zealand team always lifted its performance against Australia.

"If they (the Black Caps) were playing the West Indies, they wouldn't be as ferocious. It seems all that counts is when they play Australia," he said. But it wasn't to be last night as the Black Caps tumbled to a six wicket loss against their old foes.

Mr Schulze described Seddon Park as a "fantastic" venue for cricket, and said he and the other tour party members were enjoying the banter with Kiwi fans.

"There are a few Aussies in the crowd, and we haven't had any problems," he said.

The game was a sell-out with an attendance of 10,550.

Halfway through the Australian innings, with the result becoming obvious, fans began leaving the ground. Others, grown restless, later indulged in Mexican waves to amuse themselves. Some concern was raised about a shortage of toilets on the banks but police reported a well-behaved crowd, with only a handful of people ejected for drunken and disorderly behaviour.

- © Fairfax NZ News