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Photo by Mr. Mark Ealey

1st XV vs St Peter's College Match Report

Mark Ealey —

Peter Watt / Brian Dunne Challenge Cup (19-38 loss)

The midweek fixture in Auckland against St Peter's College was always going to be a significant challenge, but one that the team fully embraced in the knowledge that the experience would be a highlight of the season. Brian "Baz" Dunne astutely commented, "The St Peter's exchange is a great opportunity for the 1st XV to test themselves against quality opposition from the highly-rated Auckland 1A competition. As well as that, it also gives the boys the chance to make some new connections and friendships with them being billeted on the Tuesday night. This certainly adds to the overall rugby experience of the exchange." 

When the boys arrived in Auckland, Blues territory rugby was still on cloud nine, just days after their team, captained by St Peter's College old boy Patrick Tuipulotu, had won the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby final against the Highlanders at Eden Park, just a few minutes down the road. With this in the immediate background, the St Bede's College 1st XV were the next group of South Island challengers to come to town. With St Peter's returning the compliment afforded to them two years ago in the inaugural fixture by having their entire school out in support, the stage was set for a dramatic match in "The Cage."

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The game was won 38-19 by a powerful St Peter's team who dominated the physical encounters in the early stages, scoring first from a lineout drive, and then after a series of strong carries in channel one. St Bede's replied with an intercept try to Jamayne Feast, who converted it himself followed by a try under the posts by stand-in captain Ben O'Donovan, again converted by Jamayne. Down 14-26 at half-time, in the second-half St Bede's achieved parity in many areas of play, with man-of-the-match Tanner Stowers-Smith scoring in the very last play of the game. Nevertheless, despite a valiant effort we went down 19-38. Our St Peter's hosts commented that their team had just put together their best performance of the season.

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The match was a marvellous experience for the 1st XV with over one thousand spectators for much of the 70 minutes. 

Injuries last week to captain Mason Allison and fullback Isaac Hutchinson gave opportunities to others to gain experience in a high quality match. Prop Dominic Petelo was unlucky in injuring himself at a golf driving range (with his billet) on the eve of the game and was replaced in the starting team by Suliasi Faiva. Ben O'Donovan played his 25th game for the 1st XV today.  

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Points of interest:

St Peter’s College is one of NZ’s largest Catholic schools. St Peter’s College was established by the Christian Brothers and is a state integrated school.

St Bede’s College will be defending the “Peter Watt / Brian Dunne Challenge Cup”, which was won 12-10 in 2019 in a tense and tight battle. It was the last match between these two schools, with the pandemic preventing a game last year.
The Cup is named after important individuals to each school respectively and that provides additional motivation to be the victor of the contest.

Mr Peter Watt ("Wattie") was an old boy of St Peter's, and a Christian Brother from the 60s to early 80s (when he decided to leave the brotherhood but continue teaching). He taught at both St Peter’s and St Thomas of Canterbury College. He held a variety of teaching roles during these years including as Deputy Headmaster. He coached cricket and rugby throughout – including the College’s 1st XV. He was appointed President of NZ Secondary Schools' Rugby and was for many ‘Mr Schoolboy Rugby’ in Auckland. He remained closely associated with St Peter’s College until his death in June 2018. He was a real character who seemed to epitomise the institution.

Mr Brian Dunne (“Baz”) is an old boy of St Bede’s and has been a teacher at the College for over 38 years. Baz has been a significant and legendary contributor to rugby at the College having coached every team at some stage through the years - including the 1st XV during the 1990s. Baz played for the 1st XV during his school days and acknowledges that whilst change has been plenty, the core things have stayed the same - notably the boys' enthusiasm - "The support is marvellous and the spirit within St Bede’s rugby is still as good as I’ve known in the past”. St Bede's College is indeed fortunate to have hugely experienced and well-liked coaches like Baz among its ranks and in this regard he says: "I look forward to my involvement every year and really enjoy supporting the 1st XV."

In 2018 St Peter’s College became National Champions with an amazing run through to the Top 4 Final – including five wins in a row by a combined margin of eight points. Qualifying fourth in Auckland (regular season) through to first in New Zealand.

Media coverage of St Peter's season in 2018 included this piece from Marc Hinton: St Peter's, in many ways, stands as the shining example for the right way – the honourable way – to achieve success in first XV rugby at a time when the spotlight on the schools game has never shone brighter on the Auckland schools competition. The vast majority of the St Peter's first XV, including inspirational leader and star player Niko Jones (son of All Black great Sir Michael Jones), attended the central Auckland college since either their first intake in Year 7 or the second in Year 9. ”We have memories since we were 12 years old together, playing touch, tag, and staying hours after training. Playing around on random fields was how we got skillful and what got us to that place. It's a journey we've been on since we were kids.” It showed. When the going got tough, their collective spirit, togetherness and mateship helped the Saints boys get going, all the way to a remarkable triple triumph to cap possibly the greatest first XV season in school history. Some schools look at their first XVs as marketing tools. “That's not how we see it. It's about enjoyment for the kids, galvanising a community and the wonderful pride we all have in their achievement.” Pride that money, or scholarships, simply cannot buy.