The Bathurst team met their match in the form of rugby league nursery Farrer Agricultural College who took out their semi-final 26-14 in tough conditions.

It was a tough encounter but the home side well and truly deserved their victory, leading for virtually the entire game and closing out Bathurst High’s aspirations with full-time in sight, putting the game to bed with the final try of the game after a spirited Bathurst fightback.

“They were an extremely well-drilled side, they came out and really hit us hard early,” said Bathurst High skipper and half Doug Hewitt.

“They had us covered pretty well in the first half, they had a good breeze behind them and they were well on top but in the second we managed to fight back and score a couple of quick tries.

“For a while it looked like we might be able to do the job and win but they scored the last try to seal it. Really I thought we played pretty well but they were certainly stronger than us on the day and deserved to win.”

The Bathurst High forward pack did their best to get a foothold against their strong opponents, led by second-rower Blake Seager and the front-row pairing of Jason Roach and Brodie Cheshire.

Despite their efforts the Farrer defence starved the Bathurst backs of any room and opportunities, a problem they have not had to deal with regularly in an impressive 2010 season.

“I know a few of the boys who play for Farrer and they’ve told me how hard they train together and the work they put in,” Hewitt said.

“We don’t really get the opportunity to train together like they do. We all play locally so we’ve always got club footy commitments and just haven’t been able to put in the work that we’d have liked.”

Most of the Bathurst High starting side will be in action for Bathurst Panthers in next weekend’s Group 10 under 18s grand final.

“We’ve got this weekend to freshen up now, we have played a hell of a lot of footy this year so the break comes at a good time, and then we’ll get back into it next week,” Hewitt concluded.

The loss to Farrer ended a strong year for the side.

Their semi-final appearance in this competition was naturally a highlight, but undoubtedly for many of the players 2010 will be remembered as the year they played a major role in breaking the school’s Astley Cup drought that stretched back over 20 years.

The majority of the side have been playing together throughout the age divisions and will prove hard for coach Des Crawford to replace next season.