Rugby royalty and politicians have teamed up to help raise more than $100,000 for farmers affected by recent flooding in south Canterbury.
Unlike Eden Park, the stand was full at the Ashburton Showgrounds for the fundraising footy fixture which saw Labour's Chief Whip shown a yellow card.
Stacked with former All Blacks and rugby legends, the Fonterra and farmers footy team had no trouble finding the line.
The best the Parliamentary rugby team could do is fall over themselves much to the amusement of the full crowd.
"A bit of hardship suffered from the local community a few months ago through the floods so yeah nah it's great to be able to contribute to the fundraising," said former All Black Aaron Mauger.
That money - more than $100,000 - is desperately needed for the rural communities caught out by floods earlier this year.
The Rooneys were one of the hardest hit with 50 hectares of their farm left buried beneath a metre of silt.
"Wouldn't want it to happen to anybody to be honest but it is what it is and things like today are making it a little bit easier," local farmer Phillipa Rooney said.
Politicians, farmers and former footy stars put their bodies on the line in the name of fundraising. Even if things were a bit rusty.
"There's been some good money raised today so it's been all round a brilliant day. Now I don't want to talk about the score," National MP Mark Mitchell said.
That's because the politicians were thumped 51 points to 10.
"Good ol' Fonterra took them down which I am quite pleased with," Phillipa said.
"Yeah 50 points, a few penalties, no cards," Fonterra coach Scott Robertson added.
The same couldn't be said for the Parliamentary rugby team with MP Kieran McAnulty sent off thought to be the first time in the team's history.
"The person in charge of discipline of the Labour Party got a yellow card. I can't wait for the next general debate!" exclaimed National MP Michael Woodhouse.
And if things couldn't get any worse for the Government, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor choked in front of the farmers in the milk-drinking competition too.
