First night match big success

LIKE moths to a flame, a large crowd of spectators were drawn to the first rugby game to be staged under lights at Maheno Domain on Wednesday night.

The occasion could not have gone any better for the Maheno Rugby Club at its home ground as it beat Excelsior 5110 in a Citizens Shield match in front of a couple of hundred spectators eager to see night rugby in full flight.

The lights, installed last month as part of a more than $80,000 project, were given a test run a fortnight ago in preparation for the historic clash.

Project spokesman Barry Kingan said Wednesday night’s match was a huge success.

‘‘The lights were great. It’s gone really well.

‘‘It was just magic. We had a lot of visitors and someone counted over 160 cars. We had people all around the ground and the stand was as full as I have ever seen it. Both teams got into the spirit of it and it was a great night.’’

The next game scheduled to be played under lights is set for April 20, when Maheno hosts Kurow.

Mr Kingan said that night would also act as ‘‘more of an official opening’’.

While excited that Maheno would host a fellow country club, he hoped all clubs would have the opportunity to play night games at the domain, the only ground in North Otago equipped to hold such matches.

‘‘It doesn’t matter which clubs come. We would like to have all of the clubs come down and play under lights.’’

The lighting project involved four poles being installed just inside the 22m lines on each side of the field.

Mounted on each pole was a panel with three lights.

Maheno last won the Citizens Shield in 2016 after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2015.