This year will see the Dubbo College Senior Campus go into the competition as the Astley Cup holders (the first time since 1987) after a dramatic contest in 2002.

The triangular competition between Dubbo College Senior Campus, Orange High and Bathurst High is played over three rounds.

The cup has been contested since 1923 with each school having an away round and a home round.

This year's Astley Cup first round will be contested tomorrow and Friday with Dubbo College Senior Campus hosting Bathurst High.

This will be followed by Orange High hosting Dubbo College Senior Campus on June 19 and 20.

The competition will conclude with Bathurst High hosting Orange High on June 26 and 27.

In 2002 Dubbo College Senior Campus defeated Bathurst High 419-381.

However it was not until the last sport of rugby league that Dubbo College took the lead.

The Astley Cup sees eight sports contested over the two days with each sport scored out of a possible 100 points that are split according to winning ratio.

The sports to be contested are tennis, netball, basketball, soccer, athletics, softball, rugby league and hockey.

The first day will see tennis, netball, basketball and soccer contested while the second day will see athletics, soccer, hockey and rugby league.

Action on the first day gets under way at the Paramount Tennis Courts at 9.30am.

Tennis appears to be one of the strengths of the Dubbo College Senior Campus this year.

Last year Dubbo won both rounds against Orange and Bathurst.

The Dubbo College has just been crowned Western Area CHS champions in boys and girls competition, however the boys did defeat Bathurst High in the final and will be without their top two players from that contest.

The Tooth and Connolly brothers will lead the fight for Dubbo.

The Dubbo College girls team has taken all before them in taking out the area title.

Their campaign will be led by Kendall Meredith and Kristin Schneider. It is interesting to note that the Astley Cup is played over doubles and mixed doubles with no singles matches.

The second sport of the day will be basketball at Dubbo Sports World starting at 12pm.

Last year saw Dubbo win a basketball round for the first time in more than 10 years against Orange.

That team has stayed together and the addition of talented youngsters Elliot Goard, Liam Morrow and Mitchell lpkendanz has the side primed for a big showing.

The basketball will be followed by netball at Dubbo Sports World at 1.30pm.

Dubbo College has an experienced team with many members having extensive representative experience.

Current CHS Western Area representatives Lauren Draper and Amy Gillett will lead the way for Dubbo.

Defence will perhaps be the biggest test for Dubbo and the performances and combination of Amanda Edwards and Mattea McIntosh will have a vital bearing on the match.

The last sport of tomorrow will be soccer at Hans Claven Oval at 3pm. This shapes as without doubt the sport of the round if the Western Area final is anything to go by.

In that match scores were locked 1-1 after normal time and 20 minutes of extra time. In the penalty shoot-out Bathurst won 9-8 in a dramatic finish.

Dubbo will look to strong performances from Scott Fox and Mitchell Rea in the midfield. Tim Skewpeck at striker will have a vital bearing also.

The untried defensive combination of James Glenday and Sam Wenman will be another important factor for Dubbo.

Friday gets under way with athletics at Barden Park at 9am.

Traditionally athletics has seen Dubbo produce many athletes of tremendous capabilities.

The boys team will be led by Lachlan Jones, Stephen Howlett, Jye Barton and Mitchell Bestwick.

Sid Thompson shapes as a dark horse in the shot-put event after throwing a massive 12.50m at the school carnival.

In the girls, Kaali Maher, Veronica Fardell and Amanda Morris will be out to impress, however Kim Berry competing in the 100m, 400m, long jump, high jump and relay will be the girl athlete to watch.

The second sport on Friday will be softball at Barden Park at 11.45am.

Unfortunately Dubbo did not play to their potential last year in Bathurst where they were defeated 15-1. This year's team is keen to improve on this performance. NSW CHS girls cricket captain Katie Shanks, Amanda Morris and Anne Maree Cock's performances will be important.

The performances of talented Year 10 girls Krystal Hart, Amanda Riggs and Dom Marr will also have a vital bearing on the game.

The third sport on Friday will be rugby league at No 1 Oval from 1pm.

Traditionally league has been strong for Dubbo but this year is hard to gauge.

The side has not been put into the draw for the University Shield Western Area A and Arrive Alive Cup until the later rounds.

Dubbo were defeated in their first games in both competitions by Cowra High and Red Bend College.

Captain Shane Medley and Macquarie Raiders players Derek Gibbs and Adam McDermott will all have vital bearings on the game but the performances of Alex Frail, Blake Dunn and Jeremy Olsen will also be important.

The team faces a tough challenge as Bathurst High were the winners of Western Area B in the University Shield and have now moved through to the final 20 sides.

Hockey will be an important sport for Dubbo College.

Under the guidance of coach Jocelyn Knight the team is keen for a big performance. The game will get under way at 2.l5pm at Pioneer Park.