Crowds turn up to see Mace

Will Johnston

Hundreds of cricket fans flocked to catch a glimpse and a photo of the Mace.

Crowds were lined up outside New Plymouth Golf Club before the doors opened at 8am to see the trophy won by the Blackcaps in the inaugural World Test Championship last month.

New Plymouth-based Blackcaps manager Mike Sandal, Taranaki cricketer Will Young and Central Districts’ Ross Taylor accompanied the 8-kilogram trophy during its nationwide tour.

The trio were part of the World Test Championship victory against India with Taylor scoring the winning runs in Southampton.

Cricket fan Bruce Watkins, 69, was waiting outside before the doors had opened.

“I had to arrive early to have a look at the trophy. I knew it would be popular,” he said.

Watkins stayed up all night to watch the final days play of the match.

“It was well worth it and to see Ross and Will here showing the Mace off is pretty special.”

Sandal said it was humbling to see the number of people through the door and to get an autograph and photo with the two players.

The crowd during the match was limited to 4,000 spectators but as the match went on a lot of them started to cheer for New Zealand, he said.

Taranaki Cricket operations manager Travis Stewart said the organisation is ‘stoked’ with the turnout and the general buzz that surrounded the morning.

“Thanks must go to New Plymouth Golf Club for hosting the event. It was the most picturesque environment you could wush for to hold such a gathering,” he added.  

The players were whisked away before 10am for a photo of the Mace outside Pukekura Park, before a visit to Whanganui and then Palmerston North on Thursday afternoon.

The tour wraps up in Invercargill on Sunday.