Otago Daily Times

Crowd goes wild as plucky geek ends lucky streak

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OTAGO’S win against the Southland Stags on Saturday took an exciting turn when a streaker dressed only in socks and a man dressed as Superman put on an impromptu performanc­e.

And now the streaker’s mother has spoken out about her son’s nude antics, saying she encouraged her children to be proud of what they had and he had ‘‘let the whole world see his failings’’.

It was during the round five Mitre 10 Cup match at Invercargi­ll’s Rugby Park when the streaker broke free of security and made his way on to the field as fans cheered him on.

After making his debut on field, the streaker made a mad dash, successful­ly avoiding two security staff on multiple passbys and having time to perform a headstand in front of the whole stadium.

After more than 30 seconds of tomfoolery, the man was finally cornered by security and another pitch invader dressed as Superman, who attempted to save the day.

The man, wearing a Superman outfit matched with Converse Chuck Taylors, could be seen running on to the field before he tackled a security guard and the streaker to the ground.

The pair were then both escorted out of the stadium by security.

The streaker, a 20yearold fencer, told the Herald he attended the game after an endofseaso­n football bus trip.

‘‘I had a few beers in me and you get a bit silly,’’ he said.

‘‘Someone dropped the idea and I thought ‘why not’.

‘‘I ended up getting taken to the gate and away I went. I didn’t get arrested.’’

Fans at the game took to social media to congratula­te the streaker, saying it was ‘‘the best part of the game’’ and they had been in the crowd cheering for him.

However, the streaker’s mother said she was ‘‘lost for words’’.

‘‘It is not very often I am lost for words but today I find just that has happened,’’ she posted to Facebook.

‘‘Like many parents I have shared proud mummy moments over the years, but I have always said that there must be an age where parents cannot be held accountabl­e for their children’s actions,’’ she wrote on Facebook.

Despite the distractio­n, Otago was a big winner against its oldest rival, thrashing Southland 4324. — NZME

 ??  ?? Feeling the breeze . . . A pitch invader attempts a handstand during the match between Southland and Otago on Saturday.
Feeling the breeze . . . A pitch invader attempts a handstand during the match between Southland and Otago on Saturday.
 ?? PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES ?? Heroic? . . . A supporter dressed as Superman runs from the field after helping to tackle the streaker.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES Heroic? . . . A supporter dressed as Superman runs from the field after helping to tackle the streaker.

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