By Juanita Copeland
It was an unprecedented scene - a schoolboy rugby match, 4000 spectators and police breath testing every one of them - regardless of age.
The occasion was the annual clash between Christchurch Boys' High School and Christ's College, an event that dates back more than a century.
In recent years, the matches have been marred by drunken fights.
Boys' High turned out in vocal and sober support for their team as they prepared to face Christ's College.
But for one old boy, the traditional pre-game lunch, red wine included, saw him fail the compulsory breath test.
He says he knew about the ban, but thought he'd get away with it.
"Disappointed," he told 3 News. "I've been coming here for the last 30 years. We always have a lunch before we go - I had one-and-a-half glasses of red wine."
"Why should an elite private school be allowed to do this with our police force?" asks David Rankin, an aquaintance of the man who was turned away.
"It's wrong."
The Council for Civil Liberties agrees.
"There may be grounds for breath testing people who look or smell drunk, but the 75-year-old granny who might want to come along and shout for her grandson, there's no need to breath test her," says Tony Ellis.
In recent years there have been fights before and after the game.
The schools asked police to breath test all 4,000 people who entered the grounds.
"I feel sorry for them," says Simon Leese, Christ's College rector. "I know that responsible social gatherings have always been part of this fixture. We've gone out of our way to advertise the conditions today."
"Historically this game attracts a lot of disorder and violence during the game and after the game," says Snr Sgt Murray Hurst. "Our aim is to reduce that hopefully to zero."
Spectators had mixed views on the initiative.
"It's the young old boys who have dictated what's happened," says Darcy Palmer.
"Christ, it's ridiculous," says another person 3 News spoke to.
Another thought it was a good thing, because "we get rowdy every year".
Just three people were turned away for positive breath tests, and one for disorderly behaviour, before the game.
The schools and police are claiming victory, and the victory on the paddock went to Boys' High, 25-12.
3 News