Stannies began playing rugby back in the 1870s and has established a strong tradition in the 15-a-side code, but winning the opens ISA competition in such a convincing manner is a rare feat.

The first time Stannies had a perfect season in this competition was back in 2004 when the side was skippered by Beau Robinson – a current member of the NSW Waratahs Super 14 squad.

Robinson was an Australian Schoolboys representative that year and in 2008 it was another player who had reached the same level, Sam Roberson, who led Stannies to success.

Roberson is the ninth Stannies player to be selected for the Australian Schools side and on September 13 will take on Fiji Schools in a curtain raiser to the Bledisole Cup.

Geoff Melville, who co-coaches the first XV with John Welsh and was the Australian Schools forwards coach in 2006-07, was delighted with the effort.

“The ISA competition is run with eight schools, mainly from Sydney, ourselves and Kinross Wolari, we finished as undefeated premiers which is just a fantastic result,” Melville said.

“It was a very strong ISA competition this year, five players are Australian Schoolboys. It is a first past the post competition based on the Super 14 bonus points system, you play everybody once.”

Stannies gave an indication they would be a force in the competition in just the second round when defeating defending premiers St Augustine’s College 14-8.

In social fixtures against Sydney powerhouses Kings, Shore and Joeys they also showed potential as they narrowly lost and with many of the players having been part of the 2006 16A side which won an ISA title, they were keen for more success this year.

Along the way to the ISA title they defeated Orange’s Kinross Wolari 25-20 to claim the John O’Neill Shield for the Western Associated Schools champion. It was the 42nd time in 47 years Stannies had done so.

A 23-9 victory over St Patrick’s College also earned them the O’Hara Shield, but Stannies still needed to defeat Oakhill on Saturday to assure themselves of the ISA title.

The excitement built as Stannies 16A, B and C sides plus the third and second XV wrapped up their respective ISA titles on home soil, leaving the firsts with the chance to make it a day for the school to remember.

James Toole and Angus Cleaver both crossed for tries while hooker Roberson booted a conversion and two penalties as Stannies posted a 12-point victory.

“We had to go undefeated to claim the title, we scored two tries to nil and they didn’t cross our line,” Melville said. “It was really pleasing for the boys to win in front of a big crowd.”

It was the fourth open ISA title for the Bathurst school with previous success coming in 1998, 2004 and 2006.

The title built capped off an ISA season which saw a record number of Stannies players named in the ISA first XV – Roberson, Toole, James Elliott, James Read, Harley McAllister and Bill Veitch. Aside from Roberson, who will be busy with Australian Schoolboys duties, these students will face the Fiji National Schools team on September 10 at Bowral.

Fellow Stannies players Michael Toleafoa, Ben Patrick, Michael Oriel and Mitchell Evers represented the ISA second XV, work done with former Bathurst Bulldogs player Shane Cantrill paying off.

However, the job of the Stannies first XV is not over for 2008 as either later this week or next week they will be on their home soil for a Waratah Shield quarter-final.

A state-wide knock-out series, Stannies quarter-final rivals’ will be the victor of the clash between Barranjoey High School and Terrigal High School.

Stannies are the only country school to have won the Waratah Shield and have done so four times – 1974, 1980, 1981 and 1995.

“Stannies have never won the Waratah Shield and ISA premiership in the same year, so that is our main goal,” Melville said.