Magpies aid pet cause
The Hawke's Bay Magpies took an afternoon out from their busy schedule to help raise funds for the Hastings SPCA on Saturday.
The team worked the barbecue, got their faces painted and took part in a cup cake icing competition, while coach Craig Philpott helped MC the event.
IMS Payroll, one of the team's major sponsors, helped organise the day to assist the SPCA which was not long ago facing closure, and used the opportunity to distribute complimentary tickets within some of the "mystery envelopes" to Magpies home games.
A mock line out, in which kids could get lifted by the players was particularly popular.
Philpott said the team had no hesitation in supporting the cause, in between a morning training session and an evening dinner at East Pier.
As for his own duties on the day, he thought he was a "better coach than I am an MC".
