A charitable gathering of parliamentarians and staff for netball and rugby in Havelock North on Saturday raised $10,000 for Cranford Hospice.

Hawke’s Bay National Party MPs Catherine Wedd and Katie Nimon turned out for the Parly Ferns netball team, and the Green Party’s Mike Davidson in the rugby.

Comprising mainly parliamentary staff, and Wedd’s daughter, Sophie Wedd, the Parly Ferns were beaten 38-35 by the Hastings HSOG Hundy team at Iona College.

The mixed rugby team, which also included Whangarei National candidate Lloyd Budd and parliamentary sports organiser Suzanne Yee, were beaten 35-14 by the Havelock North RFC Has-Beens at Anderson Park.

The stand-out lot in an auction supporting the charity was a cricket bat signed by an Australian team captained by Ricky Ponting and including Shane Warne amid its near whitewashing of the Black Caps in a series of the test and five ODI matches in 2005.

Cranford Development and Engagement manager Carol-Ann Stubbs said the bat was donated to Cranford Hospice by a board member, who claimed it in another charity auction “many years ago”.

It had been in a cupboard for a few years but was “found” last year and donated to the trust, she said.

The fundraising included $2500 from the Parliamentary Sports Trust.