BATHURST High School stand within close range of a fourth Astley Cup title in five years this morning as they start their tie against Orange High in Orange.
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After easily accounting for Dubbo last week in the first clash of the competition, Bathurst High sports co-ordinator Darren Hamilton expects things to go up a notch today and tomorrow.
“We expected before the Cup started that Orange were going to be the tougher opposition based on other results in other competitions and we still think that’s the case,” he said.
“We think whichever way it goes, all the individual sports will be a lot closer than they were against Dubbo in terms of scores.
“I’ve told the kids we’re going in one-up, they need to go out and unleash everything they have and not leave anything in the tank. They can take care of it here and now if they can win in the next two days.
“What Orange do against Dubbo won’t matter if we’re good enough to win this one.”
There will be a little extra to play for too for the Bathurst students, who were shaken after schoolmate Tyler Horton was placed in an induced coma following a seemingly innocuous incident in the rugby league match with Dubbo.
League coach Des Crawford will also have the task of replacing one of his key playmakers given that Horton was a focal point of their attack.
In the first tie, the 170-point margin was inflated by two crushing wins in the girls’ hockey (18-0) and the tennis (15-1), while the other matches were all fairly close.
The hockey especially will be a vastly different affair against Orange.
“When our girls played theirs in hockey earlier this year, Orange won 4-2, which was actually a really good result for us given that Orange have traditionally been a lot stronger,” Hamilton said.
“From all reports, we were a bit unlucky not to get a bit closer still. To put two goals past Orange made the girls happier than they were winning 18-0 against Dubbo.
“The netball is one sport that for a long time has been a really powerful one for Orange. Again, for us, it will be about trying to stay close and not allow them a heavy win.”
Tennis and hockey will start today’s proceedings, followed by both the girls’ and boys’ soccer matches.
Two good wins in the soccer – strong sports for Bathurst for the last few years – plus a close result in the tennis and hockey would have Bathurst poised to claim the title.
“The boys’ match with Dubbo finished at nil-all, but because it was also the Western Region final we had to get a result, so Dubbo actually won on penalties, even though we’d spent the majority of the game in their half,” Hamilton said.
“Goals are huge in soccer as far as the points go and can make a big difference. A couple of wins there would be massive.
“In 17 years of doing this I can’t remember winning against Dubbo the way we did last week. I wouldn’t expect it to be like that again, but if we can win the girls’ side of the tennis and the boys can go 50-50, I’d be happy.”