Capital Sporting Clashes a Big Win for Fans

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Capital Sporting Clashes a Big Win for Fans

High-flying, hard-hitting and straight shooting; elite players of all kinds will be converging on Wellington for a series of massive multi-code sporting clashes over the coming months. Fans who thrive on the big game atmosphere can choose from rugby, football, netball, AFL and athletics – or a combination – for a sporting Wellington weekend. You can’t lose!

League and football double-header
On the last weekend in March, Wellington hosts a massive trans-Tasman double-header as the Vodafone Warriors tackle the Wests Tigers on Saturday 29 at 5pm, and the Wellington Phoenix go head-to-head with Adelaide United on Sunday 30 from 7pm.

The Phoenix will look to secure a playoff spot at the business end of their season. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be early in their campaign, looking to make a big impact in only their second ever home game outside of Auckland, (following last year’s match against the Bulldogs in Wellington).

Tickets to the both matches are on sale at Ticketek, with Warriors tickets starting from $28, and Phoenix tickets from $23

Aussies make their mark
The high-flying superstars of Aussie Rules Football will once again match up at Westpac Stadium in Wellington for ANZAC Day AFL. The official home team is Melbourne’s St Kilda Saints, who, with their star new Kiwi-born signing Shane Savage, will be looking to make a big impact on the opposition Brisbane Lions.

The annual ANZAC Day clash is a great opportunity to experience the game that our neighbours across the ditch go crazy for. A spectacular spectator sport, the high speed action is non-stop, with players running up to 15km a game on a field the size of a cricket ground. The big hits can come from any direction, and the huge leaping marks are a crowd favourite.

Tickets on sale now at Ticketek.co.nz, starting from $25

Local heroes with home advantage
Also playing at home on ANZAC Weekend – and a number of weekends either side – are Wellington favourites the Haier Pulse and the Wellington Hurricanes.

The Pulse compete in netball’s high-intensity trans-Tasman ANZ Championship and boast a number of Silver Ferns, including Irene van Dyk, Joline Henry, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and captain Katrina Grant. They won their final five games in a row at the end of last season, so are coming into the competition hot.

The Hurricanes thrive on home field advantage and their abrasive forward pack can unleash one of the most talented backlines in the competition, including All Blacks Beauden Barrett, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane and Julian Savea. Julian’s six foot three ‘little brother’ Ardie will also be one to watch this season.

Hurricanes home season tickets and Haier Pulse home season tickets are on sale at Ticketek.co.nz

Hit the road
For the lone rangers of long distance running, the Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon is a chance to share the road with ‘like-minded soles’. The famous Wellington wind, if it turns up, helps separate the stayers from the players, but the relatively flat course means personal bests are common. Half- and full-distance courses can be run, along with a 10k and Kids Magic Mile.

Entry for all distances are open now.

For pre-race carbo-loading, a delicious meal at MariLuca Ristoro, Scopa or Fratelli will help you go pasta-faster.

Breakfast of champions
To start the day of the game – or for the morning after - you can’t beat a delicious breakfast at a Wellington café. Try a breakfast burrito at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen, Belgian waffles at Leuven, bacon and eggs on ciabatta toast at Floriditas, or the famous Nikau Café kedgeree.

:: To book your sporting weekend, visit WellingtonNZ.com.

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