Bathurst High School were simply harder, fitter, faster and stronger then their Blayney High School opponents in yesterday’s second round University Shield clash at Carrington Park.
Bathurst ran in five tries to three against Blayney to win 28-14 and secured a third round match against Mudgee High School in the next two weeks.
The Jamie Bozza mentored side started the game slowly against Blayney on their home turf.
The visitors jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Bathurst decided to switch on and play solid football.
It took some brilliance from the Bathurst back line to score their first try when winger Matt Manktellow out-sprinted the cover defence to score in the corner.
With half-time looming Bathurst quickly spread the ball to the opposite wing just after the restart.
A clever kick back in field from Brendan Crisp was regathered by his team-mates before captain Brent Seager crashed over next to the post to lock the scores up at 10-all at half-time.
Looking to keep their momentum going, Bathurst shortened their game up and continually peppered the Blayney defence in and around the play the ball area.
The tactic paid dividends for Bozza’s team as they ran in three second half tries to one.
As fatigue began to set in Bathurst became their own worst enemy as handling errors almost let Blayney back in the game.
But with Junior Langi and Aaron Piper-Hurst prepared to muscle up, the Bathurst defensive line began to resemble a solid wall of pain for Blayney.
After the game Bozza said it was that strong team work in attack and defence that gave his side the 14-point victory and a third round match against Mudgee.
“It looked really good out there, the boys were running well off each other and our combinations started to work well,” he said.
“Our tough defence really fed our offence in the second half and our captain Brent Seager led us well in offence again.”
Bozza said his side would now start to work even harder at training before they play Mudgee in the coming weeks.
“We need to work on our handling skills a bit more before our next game,” he said.
“I’m not sure if it [the game] is here or away yet we’ll just have to see.”
BATHURST HIGH CAMPUS 28 (Matt Manktellow, Curtis Boardman, Rory Cole, Brock Beverly, Brent Seager tries; Jono Cole 3, Keelan Crawford goals) defeated BLAYNEY HIGH SCHOOL 14 (T.J. Smith, Marc Slingsby Ryan Roach tries; Marc Slingsby goal)