Bathurst were strong performers in the competition last year as well, making it to the top four, but 2011 has been even better. They beat Mullumbimby High School 30-20 in the semi-final last Tuesday to set up this afternoon’s clash.

The match against Dubbo won’t be an easy one. The college came out on top of Bathurst 40-16 in the Astley Cup and have an imposing side, although they may be without star fullback Charly Runciman.

“Dubbo have been in good form and they they beat us in the Astley Cup competition, so they have the wood on us,” Bathurst High coach Des Crawford said.

“That game was in Dubbo which helped them though and we think we have a good chance.

“I’ve heard the rumour that Charly Runciman won’t play and if that’s the case, it will be a blow for them and a huge gain for us, but either way we will be ready.”

Crawford said that the whole school was excited about the match and the possibility of winning the shield.

“It’s the first time in the school’s history that the side has made it this far in such a major rugby league competition,” he said.

“As well as being exciting for the school, it’s exciting for the players and it is the last opportunity for some of them to play together.

“We made a few changes to a team. We had a couple of boys who have left school and we have called a couple of younger players like Jake Betts, he will start the match.”

The University Shield competition has been running since 1922 when the Sydney University Rugby League Club donated a shield to help promote the sport in New South Wales high schools.

This year is the first time in recent memory that two Central West teams have made the final.

The coach said he would be looking for his side to contain the big Dubbo forward pack and establish their dominance early to give themselves the best chance.

“We have been working on our starts. We have been known to start slow. Other than that,

we have just been training as usual. What we have been doing has been working and that

was evident in the gutsy win over Mullumbimby,” Crawford said.

“Dubbo are a big, physical side that like to get on top of you and they also have quality halves that can make you pay. We think if we can eliminate those dangers and play our own game, we will be in a pretty good situation.”

The team was heading to Sydney last night to settle in and for several players, it will be the first time they have had the opportunity to play at an NRL stadium.

Crawford said the team had been helped out a lot in covering their costs during the tournament.

“I want to say a big thank you to some people who have really helped us out including Graeme Urquhart from Bathurst Bituman, Wayne Loader from Gold Country Transport and Steve Ingwerson from Steve Ingwerson painting,” he said.

The match between Bathurst High and Dubbo College Senior Campus kicks off at 2.45pm at Toyota Park this afternoon.

BATHURST HIGH SCHOOL: 1 Liam Siejka, 2 Tom Loader, 3 Mitch Davis, 4 James Woolmington, 5 Kajeel Crawford, 6 Andrew Mendes, 7 Doug Hewitt, 8 Brady Cheshire, 9 Luke Carpenter, 10 Jason Roche, 11 Blake Seager, 12 Riccie Arriola, 13 Jake Betts, 14 Matthew Woolmington, 15 Andrew Bain, 16 Dillion Toole, 17 Kiamurra Crawford, 18 Tom Kirby, 19 Chris Cady.