Zack Attack sinks St Bede’s as Town wins Traditional

• By Steven White
• Photos by Andy McArthur

St Pat’s Town broke their decade-long drought in their annual traditional First XV match against Christchurch’s St Bede’s College with a 53-26 win this afternoon.

Update: Match Highlights now live in the window below:

In fine, breezy conditions at Evans Bay Park, St Pat’s Town raised their half century with two late forwards-oriented tries in the southeastern corner to complete a well-deserved win.

Earlier, sprint star and left wing Zack “zoom” Kimmins scored a hat-trick of tries as the home team often stretched St Bede’s out-wide. Kimmins’ efforts included the first try of the match after regathering a cross-kick and sauntering 50 metres to score. His second and third tries were scored midway through the second half in the space of two minutes, which effectively won the game for Town. Both these tries came from first phase attacking play back near halfway, the first off a scrum and the second off a lineout. These extended their lead at the time from 31-19 to 41-19.

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After leading 26-0 late in the first half and 26-7 at halftime, the home team made a strong start to the second half. With a loose forward in the sinbin, they attacked from a penalty and lineout and through several phases before stretching St Bede’s out wide and second five Aden Hedges crossed in the same far corner as the last pair of tries.

St Bede’s were down but far from out. They had no fewer than 14 players who didn’t make the trip to Wellington for various reasons, and their young team enjoyed their best period of the game when, after almost two minutes of open play, they finished off a team try under the posts to cut the gap to 31-14.

Soon after, they were in for their third try after a tap-and-run from a free kick. They made inroads up the middle and it was only a try-saving tackle by St Pat’s Town fullback Maka Vaihola that prevented them from scoring.

But not for long, as St Bede’s kept it going and No 8 Maz Brook scored in the northwestern corner.

At this point, there was more than a hint of a comeback but St Pat’s Town’s set piece and flyer Kimmins had other ideas as they pulled away again.

Earlier, Kimmins’ first try was one of three scored by the back three, with fullback Vaihola and right wing Vini Ellison both crossing as well as St Pat’s Town went up 21-0 inside 20 minutes.

St Pat’s Town then made it 26-0 when prop Donncha McNamara-Taele made a telling burst up towards the line and a couple of phases later, lock Josiah Etimani scored in the far corner.

St Bede’s rallied, and were almost in for their second try but for a covering tackle by fullback Vaihola and a knock-on by the St Bede’s player coming through on the inside.

They maintained their territory and possession as a St Pat’s Town player was shown yellow, and St Bede’s first five James Setter dashed through to score and convert his own try.

St Bede’s suffered their first defeat since a 34-7 setback against Southland Boys’ on May 30. After that drubbing against the South Island champions and 2023 National Top Four winners, they beat Shirley BHS (44-14), Otago BHS (39-27), King’s HS (39-31), Christ’s College (73-32) and Marlborough BC (46-21). After their Nelson clash on Saturday, they play Miles Toyota Premiership champions Christchurch Boys’ on July 25.

For St Pat’s Town,  also missing a couple of players, this was an ideal warm-up for their next Wellington competition match, which is in the same place at the same time next week against defending champions St Pat’s Silverstream. The winner of this game for the Old Boys Cup will likely finish second in the regular-season standings to Wellington College and will host a semi-final. Silverstream are on 25 points, Town on 24, and Rathkeale College on 24, though Rathkeale joust with unbeaten Wellington in the last round.

St Pat’s Town – St Bede’s College History

The colleges began playing an annual rugby fixture in 1920, contesting the Holley Shield. It was a closely fought historic series; when the tradition was paused in 1973 for financial reasons, the all-time head-to-head stood at 24 wins for St Bede’s and 20 for St Pat’s Town (with 1 draw). The game resumed in 2016, and St Bede’s have dominated. The results have been:

• 2016: Town, 28-15
• 2017: St Bede’s, 28-27
• 2018: St Bede’s, 33-19
• 2019: St Bede’s, 22-12
• 2020: Not Played
• 2021: Drawn, 37-37
• 2022: St Bede’s, 46-0
• 2023: St Bede’s, 38-17
• 2024: St Bedes, 33-21
• 2025: St Bede’s, 33-31
• 2026: St Pat’s Town, 53-26