McBain Shield top billing tomorrow

Long standing club rivalries will resume across several venues tomorrow as part of the Derby Day round of senior matches in Wellington club rugby, but perhaps none more so than at the Petone Recreation Ground where Petone and Hutt Old Boys Marist take the field for their annual McBain Shield clash.

The McBain Shield commemorates the memory of Alexander McBain who was the first headmaster of Eastern Hutt School when it opened in 1915.? He was a lifelong local rugby supporter and Life Member of the Hutt Club and he also served as vice-president of the WRFU.

The shield was presented by his son Hec and Captain T E Bevan for competition between the senior teams from the Petone and Hutt clubs and was first played for on 26 May 1934 in front of a 4,000-strong crowd and won by Hutt 6-5. The Dominion reported afterwards that "in a historic struggle on the Hutt Recreational Ground and in the presence of one of the largest gatherings of spectators that has ever witnessed a Rugby match there, Hutt emerged victorious over Petone by a single point."

A scoreless first half gave way to a converted try to Petone and a penalty to Hutt to give Petone a 5-3 lead. But Hutt fullback Nees scored the winning try late in the contest and the opening chapter in McBain Shield rivalry was written.

Throughout its 78-match history to date Petone has generally dominated, winning the annual contest more than twice as often as Hutt sides have. But in recent years it has more often than not ended up on Hutt Old Boys Marist's side of the river.

Recent clashes have been hotly contested, HOBM winning it six times between 2000 and 2008 - although three of?those were at Senior 1 level?before HOBM were re-promoted in 2003 - and the Eagles winning it again each of the past three seasons between 2011 and 2013. Petone won five in a row between 2006 and 2010.

Several of these clashes since 2000 went down to the wire and were decided by narrow margins. This includes HOBM's 22-20 win in 2003, which was one of just two wins for them of eleven in that year's Swindale Shield, and Petone's wins in 2005 by 25-23, featuring a Riki Flutey-Piri Weepu battle at halfback, and in 2008 by 16-13 when Petone's forwards took control at the end of an absorbing battle. In 2004 halfback Nick Risdon and lock Polonga Pedro scored key tries in a memorable HOBM win.

HOBM will be gunning for four McBain Shield wins in a row when they venture over the bridge for this year's clash.

Petone midfielder Nick Grigg has played in all three losses between 2010-2013 and said this game means a lot to the players. "Coming from Johnsonville originally and joining Petone fresh out of school, I didn't appreciate what the McBain Shield meant to the club," he said. But seeing how much passion for the McBain Shield there is it's incredible and has really inspired me to help my side win it back off Hutt Old Boys Marist."

1991 Hutt Old Boys Jubilee Cup winning fullback and leading HOBM supporter Steve Bruce said nothing brings out the passion in Eagles players and supporters like the McBain Shield.

"Full of history and tradition, this is by far the match of the year for our club," Bruce said. "Historically we have been the underdogs and it is the one game our players want to win the most.?We have always approached and played this game with a test match like intensity."

"The McBain Shield is played in front of a big crowd and victories are hard fought.?Our supporters are their most vocal and passionate in this match and after the game, the clubrooms are packed full of players and supporters reliving the match and great McBain Shield clashes of the past.?

"Our club has a lot of respect for Petone and what they have achieved over the years.?We know that the McBain Shield means a lot to them.? But it means the world to us."

Last year the Eagles won 50-22, running in seven tries to dismember Petone's challenge, with wing James Kusel crossing four times. HOBM led 36-3 at halftime, but there was no solace for the Villagers after the break with the wind in their favour, stern defence ensuring the McBain Shield stayed at the Hutt Rec for at least another year.

In 2012 HOBM won six tries to two, 43-21. Again it was the Eagles' expansive style of play that proved the difference and all their tries were scored by number 11,14 and 15.

Who will win this year's McBain Shield clash? Both teams are coming off a win and a loss in the opening fortnight of the Swindale Shield. Petone beat an understrength Wellington Axemen outfit 28-8 first up before crashing to a 13-44 loss to the Old Boys University at home. HOBM were unseated by Tawa 14-50 in round one before running out 33-20 winners over Poneke last weekend.

What: McBain Shield Petone v Hutt Old Boys Marist

Where: Petone Recreation Ground

When: 3.00 pm Saturday

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