Match ends in alarming fashion

Highlanders players, management and stadium staff stand outside Forsyth Barr Stadium after a fire alarm led to the evacuation of the venue. Photos Gerard O'Brien.

The Highlanders practice match for the Brisbane tens made it only to halftime yesterday, before a fire alarm forced everyone out, players and all.

The game was about to start in the second half when a loud alarm went off in the covered stadium and did not stop.

Players, management and the crowd made their way tothe exit on the east end ofthe stadium and milled around in the car park while acouple of fire appliances came along.

Firefighters from Dunedin Central attended and discovered the alarm was accidentally set off by a workman cutting wood at the stadium.

Highlanders winger Tevita Li slices through a gap between prop Aki Seiuli (left) and hooker Liam Coltman while flanker James Lentjes lends his support. The team was playing a practice tens match at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien.

Once that was discovered the players had warmed down and the decision was made not to play the second half.

Instead the crowd — made up of ground members of the Highlanders and a few others — went and grabbed a sausage at the barbecue and mingled with the players.

For the record, the green team through tries by Fletcher Smith and Rob Thompson was leading the red team 12-5 at the break.

The Brisbane Tens will be played at Suncorp Stadium on February 11-12. From the 10 minutes played in the first half it looks a lot like sevens with a bit more mongrel at the breakdown.

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