Dubbo College may have finished the 2016 Astley Cup empty-handed but the school did manage to win one of the more entertaining and high-quality rugby league matches the tri-school tournament has seen in recent years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a match where momentum swung back and forth, a brilliant individual try from Dubbo five-eighth Luke Gale with six minutes remaining sealed the 20-16 win, which worked out to be 56-44 in terms of Astley Cup points.
“It was tough and a great game of footy,” Dubbo coach Craig May said.
“It was very competitive between two great sides. It was really top notch stuff.”
Despite his side losing in such a tight match, Bathurst coach Lachlan Blaikie was equally proud of his players.
“It was a cracking game and the boys dug in and I think Dubbo thought it would have been a bit easier than it was,” he said.
“The boys have shown some pretty good spirit.”
The match began as an even contest before Dubbo started to stamp their authority.
But then Bathurst scored against the run of play when Jesse Stevens scooped up a loose ball and raced 90m.
The hosts trailed 6-4 at the break after they scored through Strath Munro but they hit the lead early in the second stanza when the outstanding Clayton Couley planted the ball down.
Back-to-back Bathurst tries through Felix Quinn and classy five-eighth Adam Fearnley, who May described as “exceptional”, had them back in the lead before a show and go and try from Jai Merritt had Dubbo back in the contest.
Then with full time approaching Western representative Gale stepped and jinked around numerous players in a 50m run that ended with the ball being planted down next to the uprights and 20-16 was how the match ended.
“We had to dig deep and we did that and we came away with the win and I’m delighted with the boys’ efforts,” May said.
The coach was even more pleased with his side given how busy they have been.
As well as last week’s Astley match against Orange, a number of the players were also involved in Saturday’s CYMS-Macquarie derby as well as Combined High Schools touch football on Monday and rugby sevens on Tuesday.
Blaikie was impressed by all his players but Fearnley, Felix Quinn, Kara Rotorangi and the monstrous Riley Chesire were all singled out for individual praise.
DUBBO COLLEGE 20 (Strath Munro, Clayton Couley, Jai Merritt, Luke Gale tries; Munro Munro 2 goals) defeated BATHURST HIGH SCHOOL 16 (Jesse Stevens, Felix Quinn, Adam Fearnley tries; Kara Rotorangi, Braydon Wicks goals)
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.
