The year was 1964 and it was also the last and only time Bathurst High hoisted the Astley Cup for the third consecutive year.

But on Thursday and Friday, Bathurst will be looking to claim a rare three peat when it takes on bitter rivals Orange High in the second round of the 2019 Astley Cup.

Bathurst is fresh off a win over Dubbo last Friday and victory against Orange would be enough to win the school's 27^th Astley Cup crown.

Bathurst High principal Ken Barwick, who attended the school for six years with no success as a student, has watched on as his school has won the past two titles.

He said the rivalry between the two schools go to an extra level compared to when playing Dubbo.

"That inter town rivalry between Bathurst and Orange can be quite fierce and intimidating," he said.

"Last year when Bathurst went to Orange, their whole school chanted as we walked in, which made it very intimidating.

"This rivalry between the two schools seems to be an ongoing one in all sorts of life, not just sport."

Mr Barwick said he also has a "burning desire" to beat Orange principal Chad Bliss.

One Bathurst student who'll be keen to take on Orange is Mitch Fisher.

The year 11 student is playing for the rugby league team for the first team and he said he's keen to beat Orange.

"It's pretty big [the rivalry between the two schools]," he said.

"It's really good and there's no better feeling than beating them.

"The plan is to go in hard on their players."

The second round of the Astley Cup starts with tennis at 9.30am on Thursday, followed by basketball at 11.30am, netball at 12.45pm and athletics at 2pm.

Hockey will start Friday's play at 9.15am, followed by boys' soccer at 10.45am, girls' soccer at 12.15pm and finishing with the rugby league with a 2pm kick-off.