Trainee Firefighter Dean Stewart, of the Queenstown Fire Brigade, was the first victim, copping a blast from a policeman fielding at cover after swishing unsuccessfully at the game's first ball.
‘‘Bowl a piano and see if he can play that,'' the officer taunted from cover.
Two balls later, the unfortunate Mr Stewart was humbled by a quicker delivery that zipped off the Queenstown Primary School's artificial pitch, missing the bat and striking in a sensitive - and unprotected - part of the body, much to the obvious mirth of the police team.
The firefighters had reason to laugh too, however, as Constable Steve Watt skidded while attempting to field a skied ball and ended up in a mud-covered heap. Senior Firefighter Duncan Fisher also took a fall later in the day, breaking his ankle in a fall as heavy rain rolled in.
Mr Fisher was expected to be off work for up to two months.
Police have won all but two of the clashes since 1997, losing in 2006 and 2007. That dominance was extended on Saturday, with the police overhauling the firefighters' total of 98 off 30 overs, reaching 99 with a comfortable 11 overs still to be bowled.
