Dubbo College Senior Campus and Gilgandra High will fight out the Western Area final of the University Shield on Friday but it could be Dubbo's round ball connection who plays a deciding roll.
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Reece Mastellotto is enjoying a season with Dubbo CYMS rugby league club but last year he was a member of the Orana Spurs under-18 team that won the Western Premier League title while fullback Scott Fox is a key member of the East Dubbo Strikers.
Mastellotto will have his hands full at Apex Oval on Friday when he marks Western Division reserve Ashley Hazelton.
The match will kick-off at 1.30pm with Gil's speedy backs up against a tireless Dubbo forward pack.
Going into the final Gilgandra High had a bye then went on to defeat Condobolin High, Gulgong High 104-0 and then defeated a classy Nyngan High 18-14.
Dubbo College have had a bye, defeated Parkes High 38-28, Canobolas High 30-10 and Bathurst High 38-16.
Gilgandra will present a solid challenge to the Dubbo College.
In their last match Gilgandra High were very impressive in defeating Nyngan.
The majority of Nyngan's team were from the Nyngan Tigers under-18 side that is battling for a semi-final place.
The Gilgandra High centre pairing of Ashley Hazleton and Chris Semmler have been hard to contain in previous matches.
Halfback Curtis Carr will also be a key while Gilgandra have been dominant in the forwards, using their size to advantage.
Gilgandra High was the victor of the Western Area Tom Kemp Cup early in the year and most of that team have stepped up to the open competition.
Dubbo College have been solid in all matches this year without being spectacular. They have a hard-working forward pack with good depth and well led by Mitchell Griffith, Jacob Gander and Daniel Braithwaite.
The back line has plenty of pace with Grant McKay, Bill Collis and Joel Rolton but the major problem in the past few matches has been ball control.
The clash of halfback Mitch Dunn at halfback and the talented Carr will be interesting.
The winner of the match will take on the winners from Sydney North early in term three.
Dubbo College: 1 Scott Fox, 2 Grant McKay, 3 Joel Rolton, 4 Reece Mastellotto, 5 Bill Collis, 6 Blake Dunn, 7 Mitch Dunn, 8 Jacob Gander, 9 Brett Eaglesham, l0 Brenden Allen, 11 Kyle Dunn, l2 Daniel Braithwaite, 13 Mitch Griffith. Replacements: 14 Jared Chapman, 15 Kyle Barrow, 16 Stuart Naylor, 17 Kade Goodwin, 18 Lincon Carter, 19 Damien Rootes, 20 Shannon Ireland.
Gilgandra High: 1 Zaac Schembri, 2 Dean Riley, 3 Ashley Hazelton, 4 Chris Semmler, 5 Shaun Reynolds, 6 Alex Prout, 7 Curtis Carr, 8 Ben Horan, 9 Simon Cass, 10 Doug Burrell, 11 Matt Frecklington, 12 Jasen Starr, 13 Callan Thomas. Replacements: 14 Adam Thurlow, 15 Luke Jenkin, 16 Daniel Temple, 17 Kyle Copelin, 18 Jason Platts.
