BATHURST High School are through to the quarter-finals of the statewide University Shield competition after a 28-16 win over west Sydney team Elderslie High at Carrington Park on Thursday.
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In a decent quality contest, Bathurst Panthers premier league halfback Doug Hewitt proved the difference in the end as he produced the match-winning play 10 minutes from the end of a tight clash that never tilted too far towards either team.
With scores locked at 16-all both sides had their chances to pull clear.
First the visitors had an extended period camped on Bathurst High’s line and then the home team missed two clear-cut chances through a forward pass and a knock-on.
Hewitt had threatened to win the game for his side with two incisive runs but both plays broken down. The first led to the forward pass while his second break came to nothing when the final pass was spilled into touch.
Elderslie wouldn’t be so fortunate the third time though.
On the back of a mediocre set with the ball in hand, Hewitt sent a bomb to the heavens from half-way which gave the Elderslie winger camped underneath nightmares.
He made a meal of the catch and Hewitt had steamed through from his kick and was positioned perfectly for the loose ball which he picked up and planted over the try-line in one motion.
On the back of that effort, Bathurst High sealed the game through a try in the corner near full-time to James Woolmington, who proceeded to convert from wide out and secured an impressive win.
“We started the game really strongly, which had been our focus in preparation, though after that it turned into a bit of an arm wrestle,” Bathurst High coach Des Crawford said.
“The boys got stuck in and played controlled footy, we played out our sets and did what we needed to.
“We were level at half-time but Elderslie had a player sent off before the break, so we knew that we could make them scramble with a man short as long as we could control field position.
“They were a well-drilled unit and made us work hard, they dominated for about 15 minutes in the second half but to our credit, we hung in there and the experience in players like Doug shone through. He played a typical captain’s knock, he’s done it so many times.”
Bathurst High will now move into the quarter-finals where they will be expected to take on a Sydney team in the state capital sometime next week.
