Minimising the damage in just a couple of sports is the goal for Dubbo College as planning begins immediately for the 2017 Astley Cup.
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Despite showing plenty of promise this year Dubbo finished without a win after losing 471-329 to Bathurst on Thursday.
With almost all of the sporting grounds in Bathurst closed, day two of the tie was moved to Dubbo and the boys soccer finished in a 0-all draw while the visitors won the girls soccer 1-0 before the home side finished on a high with a thrilling 20-16 win in the rugby league.
Orange finished as the overall champions while Dubbo College were left to imagine what could have been after losing both their ties.
“It was pretty even in terms of the sports but the sports that they (Orange and Bathurst) won they won convincingly,” Dubbo’s Astley Cup coordinator Rebecca May said.
“We’ve got some targets to look at next year if we want to be competitive.”
The tennis and girls hockey are the obvious examples after Dubbo lost those sports comprehensively in both ties.
Rather than dwell on the negatives too much, May was delighted with the College’s overall performance in 2016 with two wins each in the netball and rugby league real highlights while both soccer sides showed plenty improvement.
“Particularly in boys soccer, they played well and it was a really enjoyable game to watch the skill level so that was pleasing and the netball again was a highlight,” May said.
“The girls soccer side tried really hard and it was just a shame they couldn’t get a goal but the boys finished it off well with the rugby league.”
May also praised her students for their support at all the sports across both ties.
While it wasn’t the overall win Bathurst High school craved, their Astley Cup co-ordinator Paul Abbott was still pleased with his squad’s efforts on and off the field.
"We are very pleased with the result, all the games today were extremely close and the students from both schools need to be commended for the way they played and the sportsmanship throughout the two days," he said.
"It is hard to guess but off the top of my head I think that most of our teams had a lot of students in them who still have at least a year of school left so they'll be better for the experience this year.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
