From the very beginning of the school’s history, Rugby was played, although the opportunity for sport of any kind was limited by a lack of space. “Before removing to the College premises, there was no sports ground,” wrote an old boy, ”we used to play football in Mr Kemmis’ back yard, but for serious practice we went to the Bathurst Cricket Ground, and we had a good football team in the early days.”
After the occupation of the new building in 1875, the playground adjoining being sufficiently large for practice, sport began to play an inseparable part in school life. St Stanislaus’ College, which had opened in September 1873, just four months before All Saints’, has been a constant competitor in the field of sport, particularly Rugby. A general spirit of rivalry became a permanent factor, exercising a very beneficial influence on both schools.
Under the second Headmaster Edwin Bean, the school games were played on the opposing team’s ground or else on a distant playing field on the racecourse. Chief rivals were St Stanislaus’, Cooerwull, and occasionally Sydney Schools, as up until the Great War, All Saints’ was a member of the Great Public Schools’ Association.
When the College reopened at Esrom in 1923, a splendid site was again available for sports, but this required levelling. The Memorial Playing Field, now named Watson Oval, was established as a tribute from the Old Boys to those of their number who fell in the Great War. W. J. Kell, an Old Boy, voluntarily supervised the construction of this fine sports ground, paid for by subscriptions from the Old Boys. The idea was to provide a ground on which young Australians should learn to “play the game” in the same spirit as on the battlefields of the Great War. A plaque bearing an inscription to that effect has been attached to the entrance through which the players pass on to the ground.
After the Second World War, enlistments and War Work affected the district. Union Competition and All Saints’ had to play against Sydney Schools until some of the Western Towns started Union Teams. The school, in particular Mr McLeod, acted as missionaries for the game. After Orange and Cowra began to play, a Western Rugby Union was formed and affiliated with the NSWRU, the Headmaster Rev. Watson being the first president.
There were many first-class Rugby players from the school over its history, representing Australia, New South Wales or both. Others represented in the Western District or the Australian Schoolboy Competitions. One of the most recent international players recorded here is Scott Staniforth, who captained Rugby at the school in 1995, became a NSW State and then an Australian National representative player.
Rugby has had wins and losses over the school’s 150 years, from the First XV of 1875 to the First XV of 2017. Some of the victorious teams have been the 1956 Joint-Premiers of 1956 captained by David Hawker and coached by Mr Albert Emms; the Premiers of 1978 captained by Stephen Konecny and coached by Mr Bruce Clydsdale; the 1989 Premiers captained by Alexander Terry and coached by Mr Rob King; and the 1999 WAS premiers beating St Stanislaus’ 24-14 captained by Nigel Staniforth and coached by Mr Steve Croft.
In 2012, the First XV became undefeated Minor Premiers in the ISA competition for the first time. In the Grand Final, the premiership decider, the First XV lost to Redfield in the rematch 23-12. Jock Suttor the captain and Mr Scott Gardner coach, assisted by Peter O’Neill and Marcus Croft were managers of this outstanding team. Rugby at All Saints’ would not have survived without the passion, skills and encouragement of the many coaches, managers, parents, patrons and friends of All Saints’ Rugby.
Mrs Memory Sanders
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