June 14, 2024 • 11 mins
Petone and Hutt Old Boys Marist will contest club rugby's McBain Shield for the 90th time this weekend, with Petone seeking to retain the silverware on their home turf.
The McBain Shield is the oldest and most famous interclub trophy in Wellington rugby - it was donated by Hec McBain in 1934 in memory of his father Alexander.
Alexander McBain was a loyal member, President and Life Member of the original Hutt club who also served as Vice-President of the WRFU.
Adam Cooper caught up with rugby identity Andy Leslie on why the McBain remains one of the most coveted prizes in local rugby.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The weekends.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Finally here let's kick it off the All Sport Breakfast
with Rutherford and Bond, Toyota and King Toyota used talk
zedby this looks at me on the All Sport Breakfast.
Seventeen away from eight well an iconic annual fixture and
Wellington Club Rugby is the McBain Shield match up between
Patoni and Hutthole Boys Marist and it's a very special
(00:20):
milestone being celebrated today. The mcvain Shield's being played for
the ninetieth time between those two clubs. It's a home
game for the current holders, PA Tony A two point
fifteen kickoff at the Patoni Wreck for this one now.
The McBain Shield was donated by Hector McBain in nineteen
thirty four in memory of his father Alexander, who was
a loyal member, president and life member of the original
(00:42):
Hut Club who also served as vice president of the
Wellington At Rugby Union. And for many, and I think
especially for players and supporters of these two clubs, it's
more important to many of them than the Jubilee Cup.
And while Patony is significantly ahead in the head to
head tally from the ninety years. The Shield has brought
up some readibly tense battles over the years. A modern
(01:02):
match today's tie boats to be with Potoni seconds in
the Swimsale Shields and Huddle Boys Marit in third spot.
So it's a huge occasion for both these clubs, not
just the players and coaches, but the wider communities from
the neighboring areas there in Lower Hut too. Now a
new tradition with the McBain Shield is the Friday golf
day before the big match up on the rugby field.
(01:25):
This year's year number three of the annual McBain Shield
Golf Day. They were out there at Shandon and the
heavy rain and winds yesterday and it was Hut Old
Boys Maris who took out the golf day for back
to back years, so they've taken a two to one
aggregate lead in the golf tice. I was lucky enough
to head along to that golf day yesterday and it
was a brilliant day with over one hundred people taking part.
(01:45):
But there I was able to learn a bit more
about the history of the McBain Shield, able to sit
down and have a chat with a stalwart and legend
of Pattoni, Wellington and New Zealand rugby, former All Black
captain Andy Leslie and he Wonderfield. A chat exciting weekend
for rugby, isn't it on many levels? Most most notably
this big competition in club rugby today that has a
(02:07):
lot of history.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Absolutely, the McMain Shield has been going for a few
years now and it's it's certainly built momentum as it's
gone over the years. When you know, I was a
youngster playing for our fifth grade and fourth grade teams.
The big game then of the year at club level
was the McBain Shield and there was not many clubs
(02:33):
played for. I think not many clubs had cups they
played for then. Now I think every game is just
about for remembering somebody who is someone's and put into
the game. But the McBain Shield and the Tilliard Chield too,
I can remember with Piniky and Low and Hot rugby
club were you know, just big moments and you know,
(02:58):
the talk was there that you know over you you know,
the Hunt and Patoni with being so close together, was
just you know, I bought the two towns closer together.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
What makes it such an important part of both teams
seasons playing for this year.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I think both clubs, you know, they nurture an awful
lot of junior rugby players, they bring them through and
it just doesn't start at senior level. I think it's
just about starts when you're born. You know, if you
if you're born with the Patonia jersey on you, you know,
it's on you for life sort of thing. And it's
(03:40):
between the two Between the two clubs, everyone you know
has been to school together or work together or Yeah,
there's an awful lot of close relationships. And the only
eighty minutes you don't speak to the guys is for
their eighty minutes in the year. But you hope you
get bragging rights for the for the rest of the
rest of the year.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Absolutely. How's the relationship between the two clubs been over
all this time? Is there been ups and downs or
has it stayed pretty steady.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I'm sure you have moments, you know, with with with
any sort of club, but you know, really the relationship
some of some of your best friends are involved with
that club, some of the guys, guys you work with,
some guys who are in business with you know, you
know you support the club. You want you you play
(04:28):
for and that's it. I think that the biggest thing
is making sure the lights on the on the Urine Bridge.
You know, when you go between Hunt and Patonia, if
Patonia wins, the lights are blue, and I think the
council changed them to read if if Hunt.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Win so good and just seeing the younger players you
mentioned a lot of them probably have been ball boys
at this kind of fixed you how much passion is
there the current lot of players for this big, big price.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I think, well, last night I was I was over
at the rugby club and one of the junior teams
who were playing Hut on Saturday, they had they had
their training run and they come in and they had
a hamburger and a lemonade. And then after training and
one of the senior premier boys coming and had have
(05:15):
we chat to them about getting and enjoying it and
you know, you're playing with the blue and you've got
the saddle on your back sort of thing, and you
know and Hunt will be doing the same. So really
it's just not at premier level, it's you know, at
twelve year olds too.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
There's been some I think matches that have ended in
mill All. There's been some matches that have had a
bit of biff any particular clash over the years that
particularly stands out for you.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know, probably one just a couple of years ago,
you know, like we played lots of games. I remember
we hadn't lost the McBain Shield for a long time
and Robbie Dugan was coaching our thursd and I think
we were playing for the McBain Shield because it plays
at the end level whichever the highest he was, and
(06:02):
I think Robbie Dougan was the coach and he lost it.
And I think the school was something like four or three,
and I can remember Robbie saying he had lit down
the club and all that. But you know, all aside.
The game I probably remember was two or three years
ago when we we you know, Hut didn't take a
kick a goal, We got a charge down, we went
(06:24):
the length of the field, we scored a try, won
the game, you know, out of the on the death
sort of thing, and the whole stand was up. We
were cheering because we couldn't believe what whether just we're
just witnessing the HUT guys couldn't believe they were up
saying what they couldn't believe that game, you know, three
or four years ago, I think it was stands in
(06:45):
my mind, but a pit of my is what what
just what the two clubs are all about? And now
you know afterwards, back in back in the in the
club rooms, you know, you're standing around the same lean
they having a drink with guys who you're playing golf
with the next day, who are on your side, who
you know, your bitter enemies for the last eighty minutes.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Exactly, And what a match up in terms of the
wider competition this year as well, you couldn't have picked
a bigger close rivalry this time around, right yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
And you know, like it doesn't matter where either team
was on the competition, with one team was leading it
and the other team was at the bottom of the competition,
the games were always close because they were the test match.
You know, like club rugby has changed an awful lot now,
But there wasn't many shields or games you played for.
(07:37):
You either played for your premier team Wellington or you know,
the next team was the All Blacks. Who wasn't all
these academies and all that sort of thing. So this was,
you know, it has always been one of the biggest
games of the year for all clubs, and all clubs
have these relationships with other clubs, and the ones on
(07:57):
the border are always the best ones, I think absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Any score production or advice for those following it tomorrow,
what do you expect to play out?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, you know, obviously, you know you want Pa Toni
to win. But you know, the teams when they've been
at once been at the top, one's been at the bottom.
Of the games have been very close, and both teams
are now are sitting about and together. You know, it's
only but for the grace of God, either one could
be ahead of the other. So I think tomorrow's game
is going to be pretty close encounter. Hopefully the referee
(08:34):
makes the calls our way. You know, the good calls
go our way. And because you know, since I've been
sitting in the grand standal we haven't got a grand
stand to sit in at the moment, But since I've
been watching the game, and you know, I haven't made
a mistake, I haven't knocked the ball on, I haven't
done much wrong. So hopefully we can carry on the
(08:57):
game tomorrow and be successful. But if we're not, after
the game, we'll be having a you know, a few
quiet ones with their opposition and enjoying one of this company.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
And then another big game later on for for Wellington
Hurricanes Chase, what's your thoughts on that one?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Well, you know, I just hope the Hurricanes can carry
it on. I'm disappointed the games that at four four
thirty five because I just think it takes away a
lot from the club game. They talk about the Hurricanes
being clubs and the Chiefs being clubs, but they're they're not.
(09:36):
They're not even provincial teams. So what's what's the word
for franchises, No franchises. Their clubs are the Patoni's huts,
all those sort of players. And tomorrow, you know, the game,
I'll be I'll be taking off straight after Potonia play
it to go and watch the game. So I'm just
(09:58):
an example that club rely on these big games to
have people back in their club rooms to survive, and
it's just something else that's been taken away from club
football to be able to enjoy that and enjoy the
spoils of the victory or the defeat, you know, after
after the game. But having said that, you know, you know,
(10:23):
I'm going to be cheering for the hurricanes, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
It's been great to chat. Thank you so much for
running us through and I mean all the best for you.
An historic another historic chapter hopefully being written in this shield.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah yeah, I think so since we've introduced these golf days,
like we've got a full field out there today, it
hasn't stopped raining, but you know there's no wind. That's
pretty it's pretty good conditions and you'll see later on.
Now just how will these two clubs get on with
the CONVIVII and all the friendships that will be in
(10:54):
this room in about a couple of hours time.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Looking forward to it. Great to chat, Thanks for your time,
any pleasure. Andy Leslie a really special chance to catch
up with him. Yesterday at the Shannon Golf Clubs. As
he mentioned, golfers, more than one hundred of them were
taking part in the golf day alongside the McBain Shield
annual rugby matchup. So yeah, it was pouring rain, but
I think you see how many people decided to still
show up in the rain and conditions that Wellington had yesterday.
(11:20):
It shows that there's a lot of passion among the
wider community for the annual McBain Shield. So yes, it's
a two fifteen kickoff for that one. Today at Patoni Wreck,
Patony looking to retain the McBain shield, kicking off against
hut Old Boys. Marist will have the score, updates and
final results of all club rugby through the afternoon right
here on News Talks EDB. For more from News Talks EDB,
(11:42):
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
The weekends.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Finally here let's kick it off the All Sport Breakfast
with Rutherford and Bond, Toyota and King Toyota used talk
zedby this looks at me on the All Sport Breakfast.
Seventeen away from eight well an iconic annual fixture and
Wellington Club Rugby is the McBain Shield match up between
Patoni and Hutthole Boys Marist and it's a very special
(00:20):
milestone being celebrated today. The mcvain Shield's being played for
the ninetieth time between those two clubs. It's a home
game for the current holders, PA Tony A two point
fifteen kickoff at the Patoni Wreck for this one now.
The McBain Shield was donated by Hector McBain in nineteen
thirty four in memory of his father Alexander, who was
a loyal member, president and life member of the original
(00:42):
Hut Club who also served as vice president of the
Wellington At Rugby Union. And for many, and I think
especially for players and supporters of these two clubs, it's
more important to many of them than the Jubilee Cup.
And while Patony is significantly ahead in the head to
head tally from the ninety years. The Shield has brought
up some readibly tense battles over the years. A modern
(01:02):
match today's tie boats to be with Potoni seconds in
the Swimsale Shields and Huddle Boys Marit in third spot.
So it's a huge occasion for both these clubs, not
just the players and coaches, but the wider communities from
the neighboring areas there in Lower Hut too. Now a
new tradition with the McBain Shield is the Friday golf
day before the big match up on the rugby field.
(01:25):
This year's year number three of the annual McBain Shield
Golf Day. They were out there at Shandon and the
heavy rain and winds yesterday and it was Hut Old
Boys Maris who took out the golf day for back
to back years, so they've taken a two to one
aggregate lead in the golf tice. I was lucky enough
to head along to that golf day yesterday and it
was a brilliant day with over one hundred people taking part.
(01:45):
But there I was able to learn a bit more
about the history of the McBain Shield, able to sit
down and have a chat with a stalwart and legend
of Pattoni, Wellington and New Zealand rugby, former All Black
captain Andy Leslie and he Wonderfield. A chat exciting weekend
for rugby, isn't it on many levels? Most most notably
this big competition in club rugby today that has a
(02:07):
lot of history.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Absolutely, the McMain Shield has been going for a few
years now and it's it's certainly built momentum as it's
gone over the years. When you know, I was a
youngster playing for our fifth grade and fourth grade teams.
The big game then of the year at club level
was the McBain Shield and there was not many clubs
(02:33):
played for. I think not many clubs had cups they
played for then. Now I think every game is just
about for remembering somebody who is someone's and put into
the game. But the McBain Shield and the Tilliard Chield too,
I can remember with Piniky and Low and Hot rugby
club were you know, just big moments and you know,
(02:58):
the talk was there that you know over you you know,
the Hunt and Patoni with being so close together, was
just you know, I bought the two towns closer together.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
What makes it such an important part of both teams
seasons playing for this year.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I think both clubs, you know, they nurture an awful
lot of junior rugby players, they bring them through and
it just doesn't start at senior level. I think it's
just about starts when you're born. You know, if you
if you're born with the Patonia jersey on you, you know,
it's on you for life sort of thing. And it's
(03:40):
between the two Between the two clubs, everyone you know
has been to school together or work together or Yeah,
there's an awful lot of close relationships. And the only
eighty minutes you don't speak to the guys is for
their eighty minutes in the year. But you hope you
get bragging rights for the for the rest of the
rest of the year.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Absolutely. How's the relationship between the two clubs been over
all this time? Is there been ups and downs or
has it stayed pretty steady.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I'm sure you have moments, you know, with with with
any sort of club, but you know, really the relationship
some of some of your best friends are involved with
that club, some of the guys, guys you work with,
some guys who are in business with you know, you
know you support the club. You want you you play
(04:28):
for and that's it. I think that the biggest thing
is making sure the lights on the on the Urine Bridge.
You know, when you go between Hunt and Patonia, if
Patonia wins, the lights are blue, and I think the
council changed them to read if if Hunt.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Win so good and just seeing the younger players you
mentioned a lot of them probably have been ball boys
at this kind of fixed you how much passion is
there the current lot of players for this big, big price.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I think, well, last night I was I was over
at the rugby club and one of the junior teams
who were playing Hut on Saturday, they had they had
their training run and they come in and they had
a hamburger and a lemonade. And then after training and
one of the senior premier boys coming and had have
(05:15):
we chat to them about getting and enjoying it and
you know, you're playing with the blue and you've got
the saddle on your back sort of thing, and you
know and Hunt will be doing the same. So really
it's just not at premier level, it's you know, at
twelve year olds too.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
There's been some I think matches that have ended in
mill All. There's been some matches that have had a
bit of biff any particular clash over the years that
particularly stands out for you.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
You know, probably one just a couple of years ago,
you know, like we played lots of games. I remember
we hadn't lost the McBain Shield for a long time
and Robbie Dugan was coaching our thursd and I think
we were playing for the McBain Shield because it plays
at the end level whichever the highest he was, and
(06:02):
I think Robbie Dougan was the coach and he lost it.
And I think the school was something like four or three,
and I can remember Robbie saying he had lit down
the club and all that. But you know, all aside.
The game I probably remember was two or three years
ago when we we you know, Hut didn't take a
kick a goal, We got a charge down, we went
(06:24):
the length of the field, we scored a try, won
the game, you know, out of the on the death
sort of thing, and the whole stand was up. We
were cheering because we couldn't believe what whether just we're
just witnessing the HUT guys couldn't believe they were up
saying what they couldn't believe that game, you know, three
or four years ago, I think it was stands in
(06:45):
my mind, but a pit of my is what what
just what the two clubs are all about? And now
you know afterwards, back in back in the in the
club rooms, you know, you're standing around the same lean
they having a drink with guys who you're playing golf
with the next day, who are on your side, who
you know, your bitter enemies for the last eighty minutes.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Exactly, And what a match up in terms of the
wider competition this year as well, you couldn't have picked
a bigger close rivalry this time around, right yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
And you know, like it doesn't matter where either team
was on the competition, with one team was leading it
and the other team was at the bottom of the competition,
the games were always close because they were the test match.
You know, like club rugby has changed an awful lot now,
But there wasn't many shields or games you played for.
(07:37):
You either played for your premier team Wellington or you know,
the next team was the All Blacks. Who wasn't all
these academies and all that sort of thing. So this was,
you know, it has always been one of the biggest
games of the year for all clubs, and all clubs
have these relationships with other clubs, and the ones on
(07:57):
the border are always the best ones, I think absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Any score production or advice for those following it tomorrow,
what do you expect to play out?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Well, you know, obviously, you know you want Pa Toni
to win. But you know, the teams when they've been
at once been at the top, one's been at the bottom.
Of the games have been very close, and both teams
are now are sitting about and together. You know, it's
only but for the grace of God, either one could
be ahead of the other. So I think tomorrow's game
is going to be pretty close encounter. Hopefully the referee
(08:34):
makes the calls our way. You know, the good calls
go our way. And because you know, since I've been
sitting in the grand standal we haven't got a grand
stand to sit in at the moment, But since I've
been watching the game, and you know, I haven't made
a mistake, I haven't knocked the ball on, I haven't
done much wrong. So hopefully we can carry on the
(08:57):
game tomorrow and be successful. But if we're not, after
the game, we'll be having a you know, a few
quiet ones with their opposition and enjoying one of this company.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
And then another big game later on for for Wellington
Hurricanes Chase, what's your thoughts on that one?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Well, you know, I just hope the Hurricanes can carry
it on. I'm disappointed the games that at four four
thirty five because I just think it takes away a
lot from the club game. They talk about the Hurricanes
being clubs and the Chiefs being clubs, but they're they're not.
(09:36):
They're not even provincial teams. So what's what's the word
for franchises, No franchises. Their clubs are the Patoni's huts,
all those sort of players. And tomorrow, you know, the game,
I'll be I'll be taking off straight after Potonia play
it to go and watch the game. So I'm just
(09:58):
an example that club rely on these big games to
have people back in their club rooms to survive, and
it's just something else that's been taken away from club
football to be able to enjoy that and enjoy the
spoils of the victory or the defeat, you know, after
after the game. But having said that, you know, you know,
(10:23):
I'm going to be cheering for the hurricanes, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
It's been great to chat. Thank you so much for
running us through and I mean all the best for you.
An historic another historic chapter hopefully being written in this shield.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah yeah, I think so since we've introduced these golf days,
like we've got a full field out there today, it
hasn't stopped raining, but you know there's no wind. That's
pretty it's pretty good conditions and you'll see later on.
Now just how will these two clubs get on with
the CONVIVII and all the friendships that will be in
(10:54):
this room in about a couple of hours time.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Looking forward to it. Great to chat, Thanks for your time,
any pleasure. Andy Leslie a really special chance to catch
up with him. Yesterday at the Shannon Golf Clubs. As
he mentioned, golfers, more than one hundred of them were
taking part in the golf day alongside the McBain Shield
annual rugby matchup. So yeah, it was pouring rain, but
I think you see how many people decided to still
show up in the rain and conditions that Wellington had yesterday.
(11:20):
It shows that there's a lot of passion among the
wider community for the annual McBain Shield. So yes, it's
a two fifteen kickoff for that one. Today at Patoni Wreck,
Patony looking to retain the McBain shield, kicking off against
hut Old Boys. Marist will have the score, updates and
final results of all club rugby through the afternoon right
here on News Talks EDB. For more from News Talks EDB,
(11:42):
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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