Jai Merritt put on a show at Wade Park on Friday in what was Dubbo College’s sole win in the Astley Cup tie against Orange.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Merritt, a talented half who made his Group 11 first grade debut with Macquarie last weekend, scored four tries as Dubbo College ran out 44-26 winners over Orange High School.
The hosts scored some late points to add some respectability to the score and also some extra Astley Cup points in what was otherwise a hugely successful two days of competition for the Orange school.
Dubbo captain Luke Gale joked his side won the only sport that mattered when speaking to the Astley Cup Coverage 2017 Facebook page post-match but added Merritt’s performance was the one that mattered.
“He went really well in the halves and was a good leader,” he said.
He led us around and gave us good shape and structure and obviously he got his four tries.
- Luke Gale on Jai Merritt
“He led us around and gave us good shape and structure and obviously he got his four tries which were well deserved.”
Despite her side going down, Orange High Astley Cup coordinator Tegan Dray was delighted with her school’s effort right until the final whistle.
Many tipped the Dubbo College side to be untouchable and while the final result was relatively convincing, the Orange side never gave in on their home turf.
“I knew they’d get points on the board and they did when it mattered,” she said.
“They play really well together, and did a great job.”
Gale, when speaking to social media, praised his side’s improvement in defence after last time out, a thumping at the hands of Red Bend in the Country Cup final.
“We knew we had to do that in the Astley Cup and the boys put on a show and we worked well,” he said.
Dubbo College meets Bathurst High School in Astley Cup league next Thursday.