The fight erupted at the end of a thrilling rugby clash between Stannies and Orange's Kinross Wolaroi and was sparked by the behaviour of a small number of Old Boys.

Eye-witness reports say those responsible had been behaving badly throughout the match and, despite a ban on alcohol put in place by the school, it’s also alleged some of the spectators were drinking on the sidelines.

When Stannies won the match in the dying moments, spectators rushed on to the field and it has been alleged at least one Old Boy came into physical contact with a Kinross player.

A melee soon broke out involving players and spectators, young and old.

It was a disgraceful spectacle and and act of sheer cowardice from the small number of adult spectators involved.

The match, the players and the two proud schools all deserved much better.

But to her great credit, Stannies’ head of college Dr Anne Wenham did not shy from what had happened when asked to comment on Monday.

Rather, she made it clear that it was a small number of Stannies Old Boys who were to blame and she apologised to Kinross for their behaviour.

“I apologise particularly to the players, their families, Kinross coaches, principal and staff as well as Kinross students and supporters who witnessed this behaviour,” Dr Wenham said.

But the apology should not have been Dr Wenham’s to make.

Those adult spectators responsible for the fight are the ones who need to say sorry.

It beggars belief that young men in their 20s might think it OK to not only enter the playing field at a school rugby match but to make contact with some of the students involved in the match.

If the school cannot ban them from attending future matches then they should have the courage to ban in themselves.

These men do not understand what sport is about, and particularly what school sport is about. They do not understand the standards Stannies tries to set in this town, and the standards the college expects from its students – past and present.

St. Stanislaus' College, its rugby side and its Old Boys Association are all better off without that type of supporter.