BATHURST High School and Kelso High School may have been denied the chance to take part in this year's Astley and CKC Cups respectively due to COVID-19 restrictions but staff have given students to take part in a sporting competition this year.
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The newly created Denison Cup got underway on Thursday morning, pitting the two Bathurst schools against one another across a range of sporting events.
Bathurst claimed wins in four of the five events on the opening day but Kelso had a lot to cheer about in their performance in the boys soccer clash.
The game at Proctor Park was a case of how well Kelso could withstand a flurry of attacks from Bathurst - and they proved they were up for the challenge.
Kelso came away 1-0 winners despite being well behind on both possession and field position throughout the game.
Their defensive line came up trumps on every occasion to thwart many Bathurst High entries into their penalty area across the full hour of the match.
A free kick in the 16th minute would be all that separated the two teams.
Bathurst threw plenty of bodies forward late in the game, missing an attempt from in front of goal and a contested header within the last 10 minutes.
Kelso High coach Jasmine Christie-Johnson said her side had plenty of reasons to be proud of the way they approached the game, both on and off the ball.
"Defence and attack were both really good across the park and we had a lot of speed and intensity," she said.
"I think our attitude was great and we were really positive on the ball. We wanted to play forward and keep scoring goals even though we were 1-0 up. We didn't want to park the bus, as they say.
"They're all dying to play something again during COVID so it's good to be out in the sun again playing some soccer again and enjoying the Denison rivalry. It's really good to see.
"Knowing you've beaten Bathurst High adds that extra little bit of sweetness to the victory."
However, Bathurst would get their revenge across the rest of the day's action.
Bathurst enjoyed two narrow wins in the girls soccer (2-1) and the Hockey (3-2), where a last minute goal got the blue and gold the victory.
But the basketball and netball games were more one-sided affairs as Bathurst came away 54-24 and 56-12 winners respectively.
Friday will see debating (9am) and tennis (9.15am) take place before the rugby league rounds out the inaugural cup from 11.30am.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
