Two days of competition remain in the 2017 Astley Cup, and all three schools maintain varying chances of claiming the coveted trophy.
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Dubbo will host Bathurst in the third and final tie this Wednesday and Thursday, and the scenarios are intriguing.
Orange High has split its two contests, with a 492-308 win over Dubbo College coming a week after Bathurst High stole victory from the jaws of defeat with a 402-398 in the opening tie.
The scenarios are intriguing, with the most likely result being a win to Bathurst, which would secure them the Cup.
If Dubbo happens to score an unlikely win in the tie, then things start to get interesting.
Orange have finished their two weeks of competition with 890 points, so they will be cheering hard for the hosts this week.
If Dubbo win and keep Bathurst below 379 points, that will hand Orange High the Cup for a second consecutive year.
For Dubbo to win the Cup, they need to win the tie and keep Bathurst’s total below 217.
Speaking after the loss to Orange, Dubbo College sports coordinator Craig May said his school is determined to still have a say in who takes home the 95-year-old trophy.
“You want to win, but we didn’t, so it is disappointing but we still have another round against Bathurst. We can still have a big say in this competition,” May said.
“Given [our position], it’s maybe a little unrealistic to think about winning the cup but, we want to finish strong next week against Bathurst.
“At the end of the day we want to win for our own school spirit.”
Competition this week will commence with tennis, which will be played from 10am at Paramount Tennis Club’s courts on Wingewarra Street.
After the tennis the action will move to Dubbo Sportsworld.
From midday, Ally McLean and Majayda Darcy will be keen to continue their good form from Orange into the girls netball contest, while at 1.30am the boys basketball will be held on the same court.
Day one concludes with the athletics competition at Barden Park, before the Mulvey Cup debate is held in the school hall later in the evening.
If Dubbo is in touch or in front after day one, they will fancy their chances of snatching victory as day two features their strongest sports.
A solid result in the hockey, which starts at 9.30am, will set the team up for the rugby league side, which was dominant in beating Orange last week.
That fixture will be played at Caltex Park from 11.30am.
The girls and boys soccer sides will round out the tie with their respective matches, both to be played at Hans Claven Ovals.