At 2:45pm on Tuesday 14th June on St Bede’s College No.1 Traditional Match - Peter Watt / Brian Dunne Challenge Cup

Recent history St Bede’s record against St Peter’s:

• 2021: Lost by 38 v 19

• 2020: No match due to Covid

• 2019: Won by 12 v 10

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St Peter’s College:

• Established in 1939

• Motto: Amare et Servire; (To Love and To Serve)

• Roll: 1300+

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St Bede’s College:

• Founded 1911

• Motto: Fide et Opere; (By Faith and By Works)

• Roll: 800+

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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 in 1939 as a successor of Auckland's earliest school (Mr Powell's School, established in 1841) and of St Peter's School, founded in 1857. Like St Thomas of Canterbury College, the school shares a Christian Brothers heritage and today it is an integrated school. The college is named after Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and one of the first leaders of the early Church. Peter's original name was Simon, but he was given a new name by Jesus, which literally meant rock or stone - undoubtably denoting a tough character amongst other things. That name was rendered into English as Peter. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope. Based on contemporary historical data, his papacy is estimated to have spanned from AD 30 to his death (crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero) which would make him the longest-reigning pope, at anywhere from 34 to 38 years.

• Today, St Peter’s College is located opposite Auckland Grammar School and is separated by the Mountain Road over bridge across the Southern Motorway. In 1959 St Peter’s purchased a Mountain Road site opposite the school from NZ Breweries (at a concessional price) getting in ahead of their neighbour Auckland Grammar. The new site was used as a rugby field, formerly called the ‘far field’, then the ‘new field’ and now is ‘the Cage’ - home ground of their 1st XV.

• St Bede’s College was founded in 1911 after the Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop John Grimes, sought to have a college to serve the Catholic community of the South Island. Bishop Grimes asked the Society of Mary to provide some teachers for his school. Fr Graham, on the staff at St Patrick’s College in Wellington, was appointed first Rector. Bishop Grimes decided that the new school would be called St Bede’s because of the strong English connection in Christchurch and the place Bede had in English learning. Bede was known as The Venerable Bede and was an English Benedictine monk, scholar, and saint who lived 673–735 AD. He was buried in Jarrow, although his remains were later moved to Durham Cathedral, where his tomb can be seen today. The Church declared Bede to be ‘venerable’ in 836. He was made a saint in 1899, as well as a Doctor of the Church, the only Englishman to hold that title.

• In terms of rugby, St Peter's are the current holders of the Peter Watt / Brian Dunne Challenge Cup due to their win in last year's match. 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 nearly 40 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 for the third time with an amazing run through to the Final – including five wins in a row by a combined margin of eight points, as follows: Auckland Schools 1A Semi-Final v St Kentigern College (22-21); 1A Final v King’s College (29-28); Blues Final v Westlake Boys’ High School (19-17); National Top Four Semi-Final v Hamilton Boys’ High School (8-7); National Top Four Final v Napier Boys’ High School (31-28). St Peter’s finished the season with a 17-3 record and the Moascar Cup for the first time since 2000 (which they also previously held in 1977). Known as ‘the Saints’, the college became three time winners of the National Top4 (also in 1987 and 2000).

• There was much interest from the media and this is an excerpt from a Mark Hinton article... [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 skilful 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 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.]

• St Peter's also won the Moascar Cup in the 2018 National Top 4 Final, but that was unfortunately lost in the third defence of the 2019 season with the opposition kicking an injury time penalty to claim the win. The Moascar Cup is the Ranfurly Shield of NZ Schools 1st XV rugby. It is defended by the holder at their home games, however if the holder makes the National Top 4 they must put it up in the semifinals and final regardless of where the match is played.

• St Bede’s College went undefeated at home for 62 consecutive matches from 2007 - 2013. During that period it held the Moascar Cup from 2007 to 2008 for 17 defences, with the Cup lost in an away match at the National Top 4 against Hamilton Boys' High School. However St Bede's tenure still remains the equal third best ever in NZ. The most defences in a single tenure by any team is 22 by Christchurch Boys' High School.

• In 2019 at home St Bede's defeated St Peter's in a tight contest. St Peter's with 12 players returning from their National Championship winning team were up by 10 points after just 10minutes. St Bede's got themselves back into the match and then on top despite struggling to finish off opportunities against the resolute St Peter's defence. It was a dramatic match, with St Peter's missing a clutch drop goal on the last play.

• In 2021 the match was hosted by St Peter's at the "Cage". A big crowd and fantastic atmosphere saw St Peter's fast out of the blocks and up 26-7 after as many minutes. Despite a strong comeback by Bede's with long periods of possession, they were unable to consistently crack the strong St Peter's defence nor match it, going down in the end by that same initial 19 point deficit. Some great lessons were taken from the game, especially given Bede's were missing through injury two key playmakers (Captain and first five Mason Allison and NZ Schools fullback Issac Hutchingson). The hosts, in after match comments, were kind enough to suggest that they had just put together their most complete performance of their season.

• In terms of form in 2022, St Peter's remains undefeated in the Auckland A1 competition having beaten traditional rivals St Kentigern's College, Kelston BHS (2021 Auckland Championship Winners) and King's College. They lost 20-33 to Rotorua Boys High (current Moascar Cup holders) last month - with the match report noting that "Throughout the game Rotorua showed astute tactical kicking and an exciting offloading game. A great match up for the formidable direct running of the St Peter’s 1st XV. "

• The match shapes as a significant test and great opportunity to gauge how season aspirations stack up against unfamiliar opposition. It also makes for a great overall rugby experience, where the visitors are billeted by the hosts, providing the opportunity for new connections and friendships.