Four local school sides headed across to Dubbo to contest the Peachey Shield for Year 5-6 students and the Russell Richardson Cup for Years 3-4.

The Holy Family School Sharks were the other Bathurst team in the Peachey Shield competition, while Assumption and the Cathedral School were representing their town in the Richardson Cup.

Coming off a runners-up effort in the NSW Schools Seven-a-side Rugby titles and a handful of other big showings in league and union competitions, Assumption were among the hot favourites for the Year 5-6 competition having easily won the Bathurst regional leg of the tournament.

St Augustine’s of Narromine were another of the sides expected to fare well and in the end the two teams met one another in the deciding game, which Assumption took out 12-4 in a three-tries-to-one victory.

“They are an outstanding side, they were expected to be up there and they showed why, but they did get challenged along the way,” Country Rugby League development officer Mick Armstrong said.

“They got through one of their pool games by just one try and the final was pretty close for a lot of the game as well.

“There were some good teams on show but they were deserving winners.”

Assumption showed early on just how strong their form was as they trounced All Hallows of Gulgong by 10 tries in their opening game.

That was followed by wins over Holy Family from Parkes and Nyngan Public School which saw them qualify for the knock-out rounds.

Noah Griffiths was named man of the match in the decider after a starring performance.

Assumption will now go on to compete at the NRL Legends State Carnival to be held in Sydney.

Meanwhile, the Holy Family Kelso side were very unlucky not to progress through their pool, winning just one of their three matches but losing their other games by just one try each. 

On another day those efforts could have easily earned them victories and seen them progress to the finals.

In the Richardson Cup, both Assumption and Cathedral were knocked out in the pool rounds but both gave good accounts of themselves during their matches.