ISA 2022

[DaSchmooze]

Oakhill seems like they have been very strong the past couple of years. Is the rugby culture strong there? Or is this new development? I know they've won a few Waratah Cups

Which ISA school has the best rugby culture? As in numbers of teams and 1st XV crowd attendance?

Yes a strong culture and has been so for many years.

Team numbers aren't the best indicator of culture as not every school has the same population size. Oakhill and St. Augustines have the largets playing numbers followed by St. Stanislaus and St. Pats.

I'd argue that all ISA schools have a smaller but committed band or supporters and this stretches across generations with numerous Old Boys and parents involved in the running of their school's programs.

Match day experience can vary from school to school, but at a stretch, I'd say playing Stannies on their quidditch pitch in front of Hogwarts is the most visually impressive and their crowd support is pretty raucous too.

 

[JackJill]

I wonder since the GPS schools have reverted back to home and away fixtures, what that means for the ISA/CAS comps. Surely CAS can't follow as smaller rugby schools like Aloys cannot be versing the big boys like Barker and Knox twice a season. I agree there should be some sort of tiered system in place to make it a more even playing field with both CAS and ISA competitions combined. But how would they do this? The issue is rugby is not the only sport at these schools. If rugby competitions combined what would happen to sports like swimming, soccer and basketball? Interesting times ahead.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Results from yesterday:

Pats over Gregs - 37-24
Oakhill over Stannies - 38-15
Auggies over Pius - 25-8

... and here is the final table:

School:	Played:	Won:	Lost:	For:	Against:	Diff:	Points:
Oakhill	6	6	0	230	108	122	18
Pats	6	4	2	166	113	53	14
Auggies	6	4	2	154	114	40	14
Stannies	6	3	3	119	100	19	12
Pius	6	3	3	129	142	-13	12
Gregs	6	1	5	99	189	-90	8
Kinross	6	0	6	72	202	-130	6

 

[sterlingmortlocksgloves]

Geez who would've thought Pius would be able to string together 3 wins, especially a win away in the dump that is Bathurst. Wasn't too long ago when they were scraping it in the 2nd XV comp (2017 I believe). Hopefully the school continues to build on this.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Season review:

In reverse table order -

Kinross - A tough season for Orange and it would seem that the two years off didn't do them any favours. Their ability to score points was sadly offset by a fairly leaky defence. Whilst their lack of wins suggests a poor team, I think it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Many of their losses were close and I assume their win against Grammar in the trial rounds will remain a season highlight. I'm told there will be some significant investment into their S and C programs and facilities in years to come so I dont expect the bottom of the table finish to last for too long.
Significant moment - losing a captain to injury is never great, but I've heard that in this instance, it could have had a marked effect on the outcome of some of the games. Good luck to him for years to come.

St. Greg's - A rough season for the Gregs lads but no doubt one they enjoyed. It's always hard to get a decent read on St. Gregs. In particular, the effect of having a good percentage of boys prioritising league and when or if they come into the Rugby program. For me, the most concerning aspect of their participation is the low program numbers in the lower grades. It must make life tricky for Sports Masters to get quality games when they play Gregs.
Significant moment - The tight win over Aloys in the preseason would have been a geat game to play in and I'm sure it's one they will remember fondly.

St. Pius - There's a lot to like about Pius' performance this year and ISA die hards will look at their results with a smile on their face. It's never a nice feeling knowing that your contemporaries see you as an obstacle on their way to bigger and better things but this year's Pius team through out the form guide and took matters into their own hands - good on them! Their pre-season looked to be following the usual script, but didn't they turn it around come comp time! A close loss to Pats in round 1 revealed a team that was confident and ready to back themselves. Two wins over Gregs and Kinross were just reward for a good effort but the...
Significant moment - must have come with their 1 point win over Stannies @ Bathurst. Not too many schools get to lay claim to that and the Pius 1st XV can look back on this season confident in the knowledge that they gave it to everyone they played.

St. Stanislaus' - I have no intel on what this team was expecting from themselves this year, but would argue that finishing the season in 4th spot was probably not part of the plan. Whilst accounting for Kinross in Orange, their remaining games on the road were all losses and this suggests that the fortnightly drive over the hill took it's toll. But having said that, Hogwarts wasn't it's usual impenetrable self either with Pius getting up on a boggy pitch and Pats only going down by 3.
Significant moment - local derby wins are always great to have in your pocket and I'm sure heading up the road to Orange to take their chocolates was a satisfying win for them

St. Augustines - I dont know if you could call this season one of demise for Brookvale. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is to say that Auggies is now a better reflection of its population base and local community rather than the East German Sportakademie it once was. Their dominance was still clear and obvious but their preseason form showed that perhaps they are not the program they once were and to be honest - i think that's a good thing for the ISA. The presumed top of the table clash with Oakhill saw them go down by a large margin and this may have set the tone for the remainder of the comp - winning, but not destroying. Auggies will always be up there and one would think that this season will help sharpen their focus for next year's comp.
Significant moment - whilst I dont like highlighting a loss, having them lose to Pats at home would probably send the alarm bells ringing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

St. Pats - Oh Happy Day! I try to be as impartial as I can on this site, but I'm afraid my parochialism is about to let loose! Gosh it was so good to see the black boys get the job done! It has been a miserable few years in Strathfield with the halcyon days of the 90s long gone and as an Old Boy, its been hard to watch. But having watched this year's team go around with clarity of purpose and a clearly defined game plan, it gave you the sense that they could be well shaking off the "plucky losers" tag and are ready to continue with their development back to the top of the tree again. I hope this is not a flash in the pan for them - the number of old boys, parents and kids in attendance at the games should let everyone know at the school that the support will be there for them if effort is put into the program.
Significant moment - for mine was the 21 all draw against Joeys 2nds. In so many years gone by, a close game like that would have been lost but for this year's 1st XV, a draw against Joeys (with a sideline conversion after full time no less) was an indicator of good things to come for the remainder of the season.

Oakhill - What a dominant season that was. My thoughts early on was that they were a little shaky in the trials with wins losses and draws, but all was revealed early with big wins against Kinross and Auggies. This team was a joy to watch and they appeared to have little weakness in any position. Their backs were big and fast and their forwards were big and skilful - it's hard to find fault with them. They are deserved victors of this year's ISA comp and congratulations guys - an excellent effort all round.
Significant moment - not really 1st XV related but seeing Oakhill win 75% of their games against Barker in the opening round of trials I think speaks volumes for what's happening in Castle Hill. To bash up your more fancied opponent in ALL grades is something to hang your hat on and I'm sure will make the boffins at CAS take note that the potential to have a combined or merged season will be good for all.

So that's it guys - one of the closest ISA seasons in recent memory. Ive had a great time collating this info and I hope it's been of some use. All the best to the Year 12s now who will wander out into the big wide world. I hope to see you on the field playing or off the field cooking the snags soon enough.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Geez who would've though Pius would be able to string together 3 wins, especially a win away in the dump that is Bathurst. Wasn't too long ago when they were scrapping it in the 2nd XV comp (2017 I believe). Hopefully the school continues to build on this.

Yes me too - a strong Pius is a good indicator of the health of Rugby in the ISA

 

[Agent]

Season review:

In reverse table order -

Kinross - A tough season for Orange and it would seem that the two year's off didn't do them any favours. Their ability to score points was sadly offset by a fairly leaky defence. Whilst their lack of wins suggests a poor team, I think it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Many of their losses were close and I assume their win against Grammar in the trial rounds will remain a season highlight. I'm told there will be some significant investment into their S and C programs and facilities in years to come so I dont expect the bottom of the table finish to last for too long.
Significant moment - losing a captain to injury is never great, but I've heard that in this instance, it could have had a marked effect on the outcome of some of the games. Good luck to him for years to come.

St. Greg's - A rough season for the Gregs lads but no doubt one they enjoyed. It's always hard to get a decent read on St. Gregs. In particular, the effect of having a good percentage of boys prioritising league and when or if they come into the Rugby program. For me, the most concerning aspect of their participation is the low program numbers in the lower grades. It must make life tricky for Sports Masters to get quality games when they play Gregs.
Significant moment - The tight win over Aloys in the preseason would have been a geat game to play in and I'm sure it's one they will remember fondly.

St. Pius - There's a lot to like about Pius' performance this year and ISA die hards will look at their results with a smile on their face. It's never a nice feeling knowing that your contemporaries see you as an obstacle on their way to bigger and better things but this year's Pius team through out the form guide and took matters into their own hands - good on them! Their pre-season looked to be following the usual script, but didn't they turn it around come comp time! A close loss to Pats in round 1 revealed a team that was confident and ready to back themselves. Two wins over Gregs and Kinross were just reward for a good effort but the...
Significant moment - must have come with their 1 point win over Stannies @ Bathurst. Not too many schools get to lay claim to that and the Pius 1st XV can look back on this season confident in the knowledge that they gave it to everyone they played.

St. Stanislaus' - I have no intel on what this team was expecting from themselves this year, but would argue that finishing the season in 4th spot was probably not part of the plan. Whilst accounting for Kinross in Orange, their remaining games on the road were all losses and this suggests that the fortnightly drive over the hill took it's toll. But having said that, Hogwarts wasn't it's usual impenetrable self either with Pius getting up on a boggy pitch and Pats only going down by 3.
Significant moment - local derby wins are always great to have in your pocket and I'm sure heading up the road to Orange to take their chocolates was a satisfying win for them

St. Augustines - I dont know if you could call this season one of demise for Brookvale. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is to say that Auggies is now a better reflection of its population base and local community rather than the East German Sportakademie it once was. Their dominance was still clear and obvious but their preseason form showed that perhaps they are not the program they once were and to be honest - i think that's a good thing for the ISA. The presumed top of the table clash with Oakhill saw them go down by a large margin and this may have set the tone for the remainder of the comp - winning, but not destroying. Auggies will always be up there and one would think that this season will help sharpen their focus for next year's comp.
Significant moment - whilst I dont like highlighting a loss, having them lose to Pats at home would probably send the alarm bells ringing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

St. Pats - Oh Happy Day! I try to be as impartial as I can on this site, but I'm afraid my parochialism is about to let loose! Gosh it was so good to see the black boys get the job done! It has been a miserable few years in Strathfield with the halcyon days of the 90s long gone and as an Old Boy, its been hard to watch. But having watched this year's team go around with clarity of purpose and a clearly defined game plan, it gave you the sense that they could be well shaking off the "plucky losers" tag and are ready to continue with their development back to the top of the tree again. I hope this is not a flash in the pan for them - the number of old boys, parents and kids in attendance at the games should let everyone know at the school that the support will be there for them if effort is put into the program.
Significant moment - for mine was the 21 all draw against Joeys 2nds. In so many years gone by, a close game like that would have been lost but for this year's 1st XV, a draw against Joeys (with a sideline conversion after full time no less) was an indicator of good things to come for the remainder of the season.

Oakhill - What a dominant season that was. My thoughts early on was that they were a little shaky in the trials with wins losses and draws, but all was revealed early with big wins against Kinross and Auggies. This team was a joy to watch and they appeared to have little weakness in any position. Their backs were big and fast and their forwards were big and skilful - it's hard to find fault with them. They are deserved victors of this year's ISA comp and congratulations guys - an excellent effort all round.
Significant moment - not really 1st XV related but seeing Oakhill win 75% of their games against Barker in the opening round of trials I think speaks volumes for what's happening in Castle Hill. To bash up your more fancied opponent in ALL grades is something to hang your hat on and I'm sure will make the boffins at CAS take note that the potential to have a combined or merged season will be good for all.

So that's it guys - one of the closest ISA seasons in recent memory. Ive had a great time collating this info and I hope it's been of some use. All the best to the Year 12s now who will wander out into the big wide world. I hope to see you on the field playing or off the field cooking the snags soon enough.

I only watched one game live but followed Kinross from afar. Yes a tough season which they will hopefully reflect on and improve. I would be interested to know from others what they thought of Kinross’ discipline. In the game I watched they received a red and 2 yellows, and in their next game I think they got 2 reds. Games are hard enough to win let alone when you are down players because of ill discipline. Coaches can coach until they are blue in the face but it’s up to the players / students to show discipline on the field. I wonder if the players / students get too wrapped up in the battle that they are not focused on winning the war!

 

[DaSchmooze]

I only watched one game live but followed Kinross from afar. Yes a tough season which they will hopefully reflect on and improve. I would be interested to know from others what they thought of Kinross’ discipline. In the game I watched they received a red and 2 yellows, and in their next game I think they got 2 reds. Games are hard enough to win let alone when you are down players because of ill discipline. Coaches can coach until they are blue in the face but it’s up to the players / students to show discipline on the field. I wonder if the players / students get too wrapped up in the battle that they are not focused on winning the war!

I'm not making excuses for them at all, but could imagine that by the time I got to see them (v Pats - the 2 red cards game) they were probably done and dusted. They had a scrappy pre-season and were getting done by teams they probably thought they should have beaten. It takes a highly self-actualised team of young men to maintain their discipline when the results aren't going your way.

Not an excuse by any means, but an explanation.

 

[WLF3]

Season review:

In reverse table order -

Kinross - A tough season for Orange and it would seem that the two year's off didn't do them any favours. Their ability to score points was sadly offset by a fairly leaky defence. Whilst their lack of wins suggests a poor team, I think it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Many of their losses were close and I assume their win against Grammar in the trial rounds will remain a season highlight. I'm told there will be some significant investment into their S and C programs and facilities in years to come so I dont expect the bottom of the table finish to last for too long.
Significant moment - losing a captain to injury is never great, but I've heard that in this instance, it could have had a marked effect on the outcome of some of the games. Good luck to him for years to come.

St. Greg's - A rough season for the Gregs lads but no doubt one they enjoyed. It's always hard to get a decent read on St. Gregs. In particular, the effect of having a good percentage of boys prioritising league and when or if they come into the Rugby program. For me, the most concerning aspect of their participation is the low program numbers in the lower grades. It must make life tricky for Sports Masters to get quality games when they play Gregs.
Significant moment - The tight win over Aloys in the preseason would have been a geat game to play in and I'm sure it's one they will remember fondly.

St. Pius - There's a lot to like about Pius' performance this year and ISA die hards will look at their results with a smile on their face. It's never a nice feeling knowing that your contemporaries see you as an obstacle on their way to bigger and better things but this year's Pius team through out the form guide and took matters into their own hands - good on them! Their pre-season looked to be following the usual script, but didn't they turn it around come comp time! A close loss to Pats in round 1 revealed a team that was confident and ready to back themselves. Two wins over Gregs and Kinross were just reward for a good effort but the...
Significant moment - must have come with their 1 point win over Stannies @ Bathurst. Not too many schools get to lay claim to that and the Pius 1st XV can look back on this season confident in the knowledge that they gave it to everyone they played.

St. Stanislaus' - I have no intel on what this team was expecting from themselves this year, but would argue that finishing the season in 4th spot was probably not part of the plan. Whilst accounting for Kinross in Orange, their remaining games on the road were all losses and this suggests that the fortnightly drive over the hill took it's toll. But having said that, Hogwarts wasn't it's usual impenetrable self either with Pius getting up on a boggy pitch and Pats only going down by 3.
Significant moment - local derby wins are always great to have in your pocket and I'm sure heading up the road to Orange to take their chocolates was a satisfying win for them

St. Augustines - I dont know if you could call this season one of demise for Brookvale. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is to say that Auggies is now a better reflection of its population base and local community rather than the East German Sportakademie it once was. Their dominance was still clear and obvious but their preseason form showed that perhaps they are not the program they once were and to be honest - i think that's a good thing for the ISA. The presumed top of the table clash with Oakhill saw them go down by a large margin and this may have set the tone for the remainder of the comp - winning, but not destroying. Auggies will always be up there and one would think that this season will help sharpen their focus for next year's comp.
Significant moment - whilst I dont like highlighting a loss, having them lose to Pats at home would probably send the alarm bells ringing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

St. Pats - Oh Happy Day! I try to be as impartial as I can on this site, but I'm afraid my parochialism is about to let loose! Gosh it was so good to see the black boys get the job done! It has been a miserable few years in Strathfield with the halcyon days of the 90s long gone and as an Old Boy, its been hard to watch. But having watched this year's team go around with clarity of purpose and a clearly defined game plan, it gave you the sense that they could be well shaking off the "plucky losers" tag and are ready to continue with their development back to the top of the tree again. I hope this is not a flash in the pan for them - the number of old boys, parents and kids in attendance at the games should let everyone know at the school that the support will be there for them if effort is put into the program.
Significant moment - for mine was the 21 all draw against Joeys 2nds. In so many years gone by, a close game like that would have been lost but for this year's 1st XV, a draw against Joeys (with a sideline conversion after full time no less) was an indicator of good things to come for the remainder of the season.

Oakhill - What a dominant season that was. My thoughts early on was that they were a little shaky in the trials with wins losses and draws, but all was revealed early with big wins against Kinross and Auggies. This team was a joy to watch and they appeared to have little weakness in any position. Their backs were big and fast and their forwards were big and skilful - it's hard to find fault with them. They are deserved victors of this year's ISA comp and congratulations guys - an excellent effort all round.
Significant moment - not really 1st XV related but seeing Oakhill win 75% of their games against Barker in the opening round of trials I think speaks volumes for what's happening in Castle Hill. To bash up your more fancied opponent in ALL grades is something to hang your hat on and I'm sure will make the boffins at CAS take note that the potential to have a combined or merged season will be good for all.

So that's it guys - one of the closest ISA seasons in recent memory. Ive had a great time collating this info and I hope it's been of some use. All the best to the Year 12s now who will wander out into the big wide world. I hope to see you on the field playing or off the field cooking the snags soon enough.

DA,

Whilst this year is only 1 year, to be honest the only ISA school over the last few years that has really competed against the stronger CAS schools has been Oakhill. There may be the odd Auggies lower grade team that is very strong eg their 14as this year, but the rest of the teams I doubt would be really competitive, and 1 strong school doesn't solve the CAS issue.

Even Oakhill this year, who clearly dominated the IS 1sts comp, found it tough against Barker and Waves. Yes they drew with Waves, who under performed this year, and whilst played well to get a draw, the Waves had a big lead which they did not protect.
I am pretty sure the other ISA schools would not fare well at the moment v the stronger CAS schools, and that includes Cranbrook who are now demonstrating a stronger rugby program across the age groups.

I have constantly stated that I am a fan of creating a stronger 2 tiered system, but I don't think that ISA by itself solves the problem/opportunity.
So whilst you think the CAS may be boffins, I think you are over-stating the strength of the ISA based on recent years performances.

Keen to hear your thoughts and others.

Cheers.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Season review:

In reverse table order -

Kinross - A tough season for Orange and it would seem that the two year's off didn't do them any favours. Their ability to score points was sadly offset by a fairly leaky defence. Whilst their lack of wins suggests a poor team, I think it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Many of their losses were close and I assume their win against Grammar in the trial rounds will remain a season highlight. I'm told there will be some significant investment into their S and C programs and facilities in years to come so I dont expect the bottom of the table finish to last for too long.
Significant moment - losing a captain to injury is never great, but I've heard that in this instance, it could have had a marked effect on the outcome of some of the games. Good luck to him for years to come.

St. Greg's - A rough season for the Gregs lads but no doubt one they enjoyed. It's always hard to get a decent read on St. Gregs. In particular, the effect of having a good percentage of boys prioritising league and when or if they come into the Rugby program. For me, the most concerning aspect of their participation is the low program numbers in the lower grades. It must make life tricky for Sports Masters to get quality games when they play Gregs.
Significant moment - The tight win over Aloys in the preseason would have been a geat game to play in and I'm sure it's one they will remember fondly.

St. Pius - There's a lot to like about Pius' performance this year and ISA die hards will look at their results with a smile on their face. It's never a nice feeling knowing that your contemporaries see you as an obstacle on their way to bigger and better things but this year's Pius team through out the form guide and took matters into their own hands - good on them! Their pre-season looked to be following the usual script, but didn't they turn it around come comp time! A close loss to Pats in round 1 revealed a team that was confident and ready to back themselves. Two wins over Gregs and Kinross were just reward for a good effort but the...
Significant moment - must have come with their 1 point win over Stannies @ Bathurst. Not too many schools get to lay claim to that and the Pius 1st XV can look back on this season confident in the knowledge that they gave it to everyone they played.

St. Stanislaus' - I have no intel on what this team was expecting from themselves this year, but would argue that finishing the season in 4th spot was probably not part of the plan. Whilst accounting for Kinross in Orange, their remaining games on the road were all losses and this suggests that the fortnightly drive over the hill took it's toll. But having said that, Hogwarts wasn't it's usual impenetrable self either with Pius getting up on a boggy pitch and Pats only going down by 3.
Significant moment - local derby wins are always great to have in your pocket and I'm sure heading up the road to Orange to take their chocolates was a satisfying win for them

St. Augustines - I dont know if you could call this season one of demise for Brookvale. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is to say that Auggies is now a better reflection of its population base and local community rather than the East German Sportakademie it once was. Their dominance was still clear and obvious but their preseason form showed that perhaps they are not the program they once were and to be honest - i think that's a good thing for the ISA. The presumed top of the table clash with Oakhill saw them go down by a large margin and this may have set the tone for the remainder of the comp - winning, but not destroying. Auggies will always be up there and one would think that this season will help sharpen their focus for next year's comp.
Significant moment - whilst I dont like highlighting a loss, having them lose to Pats at home would probably send the alarm bells ringing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

St. Pats - Oh Happy Day! I try to be as impartial as I can on this site, but I'm afraid my parochialism is about to let loose! Gosh it was so good to see the black boys get the job done! It has been a miserable few years in Strathfield with the halcyon days of the 90s long gone and as an Old Boy, its been hard to watch. But having watched this year's team go around with clarity of purpose and a clearly defined game plan, it gave you the sense that they could be well shaking off the "plucky losers" tag and are ready to continue with their development back to the top of the tree again. I hope this is not a flash in the pan for them - the number of old boys, parents and kids in attendance at the games should let everyone know at the school that the support will be there for them if effort is put into the program.
Significant moment - for mine was the 21 all draw against Joeys 2nds. In so many years gone by, a close game like that would have been lost but for this year's 1st XV, a draw against Joeys (with a sideline conversion after full time no less) was an indicator of good things to come for the remainder of the season.

Oakhill - What a dominant season that was. My thoughts early on was that they were a little shaky in the trials with wins losses and draws, but all was revealed early with big wins against Kinross and Auggies. This team was a joy to watch and they appeared to have little weakness in any position. Their backs were big and fast and their forwards were big and skilful - it's hard to find fault with them. They are deserved victors of this year's ISA comp and congratulations guys - an excellent effort all round.
Significant moment - not really 1st XV related but seeing Oakhill win 75% of their games against Barker in the opening round of trials I think speaks volumes for what's happening in Castle Hill. To bash up your more fancied opponent in ALL grades is something to hang your hat on and I'm sure will make the boffins at CAS take note that the potential to have a combined or merged season will be good for all.

So that's it guys - one of the closest ISA seasons in recent memory. Ive had a great time collating this info and I hope it's been of some use. All the best to the Year 12s now who will wander out into the big wide world. I hope to see you on the field playing or off the field cooking the snags soon enough.

I reckon you're looking at the Auggies season all wrong, for a team that has had the majority of its 1st XV poached by either CAS or GPS schools over the last couple of years, for them to still be able to put out a strong outfit that was competitive, still shows the depth they have at the school.
And if your highlighting a loss at their significant moment, I think you have to look at their, 17-14 loss against Kings at Kings. No ISA school had that losing margin against any GPS or CAS team this season. From getting flogged by 83-0 by Shore to that, in a matter of weeks, showed the improvemnt the team had over the season.
Sorry for the rant, coming from a saints boy

 

[DaSchmooze]

I reckon you're looking at the Auggies season all wrong, for a team that has had the majority of its 1st XV poached by either CAS or GPS schools over the last couple of years, for them to still be able to put out a strong outfit that was competitive, still shows the depth they have at the school.
And if your highlighting a loss at their significant moment, I think you have to look at their, 17-14 loss against Kings at Kings. No ISA school had that losing margin against any GPS or CAS team this season. From getting flogged by 83-0 by Shore to that, in a matter of weeks, showed the improvemnt the team had over the season.
Sorry for the rant, coming from a saints boy

Totally fine BG and no problem at all. Just my observations from VEEEERY long arms length. I dont know anyone in the school or connected to the program.

 

[DaSchmooze]

DA,

Whilst this year is only 1 year, to be honest the only ISA school over the last few years that has really competed against the stronger CAS schools has been Oakhill. There may be the odd Auggies lower grade team that is very strong eg their 14as this year, but the rest of the teams I doubt would be really competitive, and 1 strong school doesn't solve the CAS issue.

Even Oakhill this year, who clearly dominated the IS 1sts comp, found it tough against Barker and Waves. Yes they drew with Waves, who under performed this year, and whilst played well to get a draw, the Waves had a big lead which they did not protect.
I am pretty sure the other ISA schools would not fare well at the moment v the stronger CAS schools, and that includes Cranbrook who are now demonstrating a stronger rugby program across the age groups.

I have constantly stated that I am a fan of creating a stronger 2 tiered system, but I don't think that ISA by itself solves the problem/opportunity.
So whilst you think the CAS may be boffins, I think you are over-stating the strength of the ISA based on recent years performances.

Keen to hear your thoughts and others.

Cheers.

All valid points and no contest from me

I suppose the point I'm making is that it now rests with the powers that be in ISA/CAS land as to what they want Rugby to be in each of their school's settings. I dont see the whole CAS expansion thing as a zero sum game - all in for every sport or all out. A sensible approach is to keep the associations as separate entities but treat Rugby as an exception. I think if wise heads set their mind to this, a Rugby solution can be found that improves the outcomes of all schools playing the game.

But, if it is more important for ISA and CAS schools to retain their ISA or CAS-ness, then for some schools it will really present an ultimatum to their ongoing Rugby viability and for some, perhaps the end of the sport in the school.
I dont think anyone wants that.
But nobody wants to face a shellacking each week purely because they HAVE to play the schools in their current association either.

Anyway - we'll all see soon enough. The report from the company tasked with collating parent responses and feedback will make for very interesting reading. If it is released at all.

 

[WLF3]

All valid points and no contest from me

I suppose the point I'm making is that it now rests with the powers that be in ISA/CAS land as to what they want Rugby to be in each of their school's settings. I dont see the whole CAS expansion thing as a zero sum game - all in for every sport or all out. A sensible approach is to keep the associations as separate entities but treat Rugby as an exception. I think if wise heads set their mind to this, a Rugby solution can be found that improves the outcomes of all schools playing the game.

But, if it is more important for ISA and CAS schools to retain their ISA or CAS-ness, then for some schools it will really present an ultimatum to their ongoing Rugby viability and for some, perhaps the end of the sport in the school.
I dont think anyone wants that.
But nobody wants to face a shellacking each week purely because they HAVE to play the schools in their current association either.

Anyway - we'll all see soon enough. The report from the company tasked with collating parent responses and feedback will make for very interesting reading. If it is released at all.

Agree, Rugby could, and needs to be treated differently than other sports for obvious safety, enjoyment reasons etc.

It's a broader issue than just our 2 associations IMO but the CAS will definitely now have to have a hard look at the current comp.
You could argue that the ISA comp is in a similar position, with a couple of schools dominating every year.

The good thing now is that it will have to be addressed, mind you not in the way I think is optimal for Sydney schoolboy rugby, it will be a band aid solution but hopefully still better than leaving things as they currently stand.

 

[Hankspank]

I reckon you're looking at the Auggies season all wrong, for a team that has had the majority of its 1st XV poached by either CAS or GPS schools over the last couple of years, for them to still be able to put out a strong outfit that was competitive, still shows the depth they have at the school.
And if your highlighting a loss at their significant moment, I think you have to look at their, 17-14 loss against Kings at Kings. No ISA school had that losing margin against any GPS or CAS team this season. From getting flogged by 83-0 by Shore to that, in a matter of weeks, showed the improvemnt the team had over the season.
Sorry for the rant, coming from a saints boy

Oakhill lost by 1 try to Barker, beat Trinity, drew with Waverley, beat Riverview in a game between the schools over the holidays. Not a bad collection of results. Had a terrible 10 minutes when Knox ran in 3 tries and an awful game trying to play dry weather football in the Shore bog. The only close game where the result was in any doubt was v St Pats in the ISA rounds. Out of genuine curiousity, besides Ollie (& maybe Eli Sagala?) who were the other players lost to scholarships?

 

[Hankspank]

Season review:

In reverse table order -

Kinross - A tough season for Orange and it would seem that the two year's off didn't do them any favours. Their ability to score points was sadly offset by a fairly leaky defence. Whilst their lack of wins suggests a poor team, I think it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Many of their losses were close and I assume their win against Grammar in the trial rounds will remain a season highlight. I'm told there will be some significant investment into their S and C programs and facilities in years to come so I dont expect the bottom of the table finish to last for too long.
Significant moment - losing a captain to injury is never great, but I've heard that in this instance, it could have had a marked effect on the outcome of some of the games. Good luck to him for years to come.

St. Greg's - A rough season for the Gregs lads but no doubt one they enjoyed. It's always hard to get a decent read on St. Gregs. In particular, the effect of having a good percentage of boys prioritising league and when or if they come into the Rugby program. For me, the most concerning aspect of their participation is the low program numbers in the lower grades. It must make life tricky for Sports Masters to get quality games when they play Gregs.
Significant moment - The tight win over Aloys in the preseason would have been a geat game to play in and I'm sure it's one they will remember fondly.

St. Pius - There's a lot to like about Pius' performance this year and ISA die hards will look at their results with a smile on their face. It's never a nice feeling knowing that your contemporaries see you as an obstacle on their way to bigger and better things but this year's Pius team through out the form guide and took matters into their own hands - good on them! Their pre-season looked to be following the usual script, but didn't they turn it around come comp time! A close loss to Pats in round 1 revealed a team that was confident and ready to back themselves. Two wins over Gregs and Kinross were just reward for a good effort but the...
Significant moment - must have come with their 1 point win over Stannies @ Bathurst. Not too many schools get to lay claim to that and the Pius 1st XV can look back on this season confident in the knowledge that they gave it to everyone they played.

St. Stanislaus' - I have no intel on what this team was expecting from themselves this year, but would argue that finishing the season in 4th spot was probably not part of the plan. Whilst accounting for Kinross in Orange, their remaining games on the road were all losses and this suggests that the fortnightly drive over the hill took it's toll. But having said that, Hogwarts wasn't it's usual impenetrable self either with Pius getting up on a boggy pitch and Pats only going down by 3.
Significant moment - local derby wins are always great to have in your pocket and I'm sure heading up the road to Orange to take their chocolates was a satisfying win for them

St. Augustines - I dont know if you could call this season one of demise for Brookvale. Perhaps a better way of looking at it is to say that Auggies is now a better reflection of its population base and local community rather than the East German Sportakademie it once was. Their dominance was still clear and obvious but their preseason form showed that perhaps they are not the program they once were and to be honest - i think that's a good thing for the ISA. The presumed top of the table clash with Oakhill saw them go down by a large margin and this may have set the tone for the remainder of the comp - winning, but not destroying. Auggies will always be up there and one would think that this season will help sharpen their focus for next year's comp.
Significant moment - whilst I dont like highlighting a loss, having them lose to Pats at home would probably send the alarm bells ringing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

St. Pats - Oh Happy Day! I try to be as impartial as I can on this site, but I'm afraid my parochialism is about to let loose! Gosh it was so good to see the black boys get the job done! It has been a miserable few years in Strathfield with the halcyon days of the 90s long gone and as an Old Boy, its been hard to watch. But having watched this year's team go around with clarity of purpose and a clearly defined game plan, it gave you the sense that they could be well shaking off the "plucky losers" tag and are ready to continue with their development back to the top of the tree again. I hope this is not a flash in the pan for them - the number of old boys, parents and kids in attendance at the games should let everyone know at the school that the support will be there for them if effort is put into the program.
Significant moment - for mine was the 21 all draw against Joeys 2nds. In so many years gone by, a close game like that would have been lost but for this year's 1st XV, a draw against Joeys (with a sideline conversion after full time no less) was an indicator of good things to come for the remainder of the season.

Oakhill - What a dominant season that was. My thoughts early on was that they were a little shaky in the trials with wins losses and draws, but all was revealed early with big wins against Kinross and Auggies. This team was a joy to watch and they appeared to have little weakness in any position. Their backs were big and fast and their forwards were big and skilful - it's hard to find fault with them. They are deserved victors of this year's ISA comp and congratulations guys - an excellent effort all round.
Significant moment - not really 1st XV related but seeing Oakhill win 75% of their games against Barker in the opening round of trials I think speaks volumes for what's happening in Castle Hill. To bash up your more fancied opponent in ALL grades is something to hang your hat on and I'm sure will make the boffins at CAS take note that the potential to have a combined or merged season will be good for all.

So that's it guys - one of the closest ISA seasons in recent memory. Ive had a great time collating this info and I hope it's been of some use. All the best to the Year 12s now who will wander out into the big wide world. I hope to see you on the field playing or off the field cooking the snags soon enough.

Thanks a lot for your contribution this year DS. Was really good to have some chat about the ISA comp and good luck to everyone for next year.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Agree, Rugby could, and needs to be treated differently than other sports for obvious safety, enjoyment reasons etc.

It's a broader issue than just our 2 associations IMO but the CAS will definitely now have to have a hard look at the current comp.
You could argue that the ISA comp is in a similar position, with a couple of schools dominating every year.

The good thing now is that it will have to be addressed, mind you not in the way I think is optimal for Sydney schoolboy rugby, it will be a band aid solution but hopefully still better than leaving things as they currently stand.

Yes I feel you're correct there. The solution will look like a quick fix and will still fail to address systemic issues with schoolboy Rugby.

But to be fair - the fact that it appears CAS are at the very least acknowledging that there could be an issue (and hopefully are genuinely considering ways of fixing it) is a real positive. I just hope that whatever conclusions they come to have been done so by liaising and working with the ISA as any solution they come up would have to involve them in some way shape or form.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Thanks a lot for your contribution this year DS. Was really good to have some chat about the ISA comp and good luck to everyone for next year.

Cheers Hank and the same to you too. I was pretty miffed with the lack of ISA info here on G&G so have taken it upon myself to gather as much info as I can. Looking forward to your birds eye view of Oakhill next year.

 

[Silver Back]

Oakhill lost by 1 try to Barker, beat Trinity, drew with Waverley, beat Riverview in a game between the schools over the holidays. Not a bad collection of results. Had a terrible 10 minutes when Knox ran in 3 tries and an awful game trying to play dry weather football in the Shore bog. The only close game where the result was in any doubt was v St Pats in the ISA rounds. Out of genuine curiousity, besides Ollie (& maybe Eli Sagala?) who were the other players lost to scholarships?

Its interesting to observe the Auggies program and performances. This year the Auggies First XV trial form was very hard to read. In addition to those positive Oakhill results against GPS and CAS teams noted by HS, St Pats beat Trinity, Cranbrook and Aloys, drew with Joeys Seconds (noting Auggies lost to Joeys Seconds). Having said that St Pats were comfortably beaten in all lower grades by Auggies (and Oakhill) and there are definitely lots of good things happening for Auggies Rugby. I have no doubt Auggies will continue to be a force in ISA Rugby.

I’m familiar with the 2021 16s age group, mostly in Year 11 2022. I know there are a small group of St Pats year 11 players who have never lost to Auggies through the age groups and now in this 2022 First XV, although the schools didn’t play each other in 2021 due to COVID, but that age group has always been close and not dominated by Auggies or any one school, but that is a rarity for St Pats v Auggies. I’m also genuinely curious about players who left Auggies for other schools who would have been in the 2022 Firsts.

 

[Hankspank]

Cheers Hank and the same to you too. I was pretty miffed with the lack of ISA info here on G&G so have taken it upon myself to gather as much info as I can. Looking forward to your birds eye view of Oakhill next year.

There won't be much from me DS as Junior Hank finished his school career by making his comeback on Saturday and then getting red carded in the first half

 

[Babaganoosh]

Its interesting to observe the Auggies program and performances. This year the Auggies First XV trial form was very hard to read. In addition to those positive Oakhill results against GPS and CAS teams noted by HS, St Pats beat Trinity, Cranbrook and Aloys, drew with Joeys Seconds (noting Auggies lost to Joeys Seconds). Having said that St Pats were comfortably beaten in all lower grades by Auggies (and Oakhill) and there are definitely lots of good things happening for Auggies Rugby. I have no doubt Auggies will continue to be a force in ISA Rugby.

I’m familiar with the 2021 16s age group, mostly in Year 11 2022. I know there are a small group of St Pats year 11 players who have never lost to Auggies through the age groups and now in this 2022 First XV, although the schools didn’t play each other in 2021 due to COVID, but that age group has always been close and not dominated by Auggies or any one school, but that is a rarity for St Pats v Auggies. I’m also genuinely curious about players who left Auggies for other schools who would have been in the 2022 Firsts.

Ollie is the obvious one, others include
Ben Di Staso - Scots
Nic Vanderrayden - scots
Lachlan Marshall - taken by Newington, now at joeys
Ted Whelan - Knox
Tom Sheehan - Waverly
Matt Hanley - Barker
Charlie Ponyton - Barker,
Similiar story with last year
The 2024 Auggies first, if all players stay, will be one to watch