McBain Shield

McBain Shield – Petone v Hutt Old Boys Marist 

Legendary All Black Billy Wallace described Alexander McBain as “the grandfather of school rugby.”

McBain was born in Scotland in 1868 and migrated to New Zealand in 1892. He was a schoolteacher for 45 years, culminating in his tenure as headmaster of Eastern Hutt School from 1915 to 1931. A leading referee, coach, and rugby advocate, he was the President of the Hutt Club and Vice-President of the Wellington Rugby Football Union. In 1933, he died. A year later, Hector McBain (Alexander’s son) and Thomas Bevan presented a Shield to the Hutt and Petone clubs to “foster good fellowship.”

The first ‘McBain’ was won by Hutt 6-5 in a tussle described as a “Homeric struggle.” Struggle is only a mild description of the difficulty Hutt would soon endure trying to prise McBain from the “Villagers.” Between 1953 and 1984, Petone won the Jubilee Cup 14 times and never relinquished McBain. So imperious was Petone that their third side often played and beat Hutt.

Record

Played: 91

Petone Won: 64

Hutt Won: 22

Drawn: 5

Under Seven Points: 40