AN about-turn in form has enabled Orange High to take a commanding two-event lead over Dubbo Senior College, heading into day two of their second round Astley Cup clash today.

Orange High won three of their four events in convincing fashion yesterday, to take a 3-1 lead over Dubbo.

Teacher-in-charge, Lynne Middleton was ecstatic with her squad’s performance on the opening day.

“I’m just ecstatic, to take a 3-1 lead into the second day is just great, we only have to win one and we will likely tie the round and take it to a points count back,” Middleton said.

Western star Kate Butcherine led Orange High’s girls’ hockey squad to a very dominant 5-nil defeat of Dubbo. The host side was leading 3-nil at the break thanks to two goals from Rachel Divall and one to Maddy Kelly.

Butcherine, fresh from helping Western to third in the NSW Combined High Schools girls hockey championship in the morning, scored two goals in the second half to seal the solid victory.

Orange High’s western area championship winning netballers sealed a solid 51-31 win, while Liam Patterson starred for the host’s to top score in Orange High’s 82-62 win in the boys’ basketball.

“Our basketballers played like a team today, they were a lot different to last week (against Bathurst), they got on the board early and were never really got headed,” Middleton said.

Dubbo were too strong in the tennis rubber, however Middleton said her young squad were far from disgraced in going down to the western area champions 10 sets to six.

The Mulvey Cup debating crown will be decided in the next round between Bathurst and Dubbo, after the visitors took out the tie over Orange High yesterday.

Orange’s two event lead now means they need to win just one event today to tie the second round with Dubbo, with the overall winner decided on a points countback.

“If we win one or a couple of events (today), and maybe draw another we will hopefully go on and win the tie,” Middleton said.

Orange High and Dubbo Senior College face off in athletics, rugby league and boys’ and girls’ football today, all played at Orange High School.

Astley Cup

Orange v Dubbo

DAY ONE RESULTS:

Netball: Orange High 51 def Dubbo 31.

Basketball: Orange High 82 def Dubbo 62.

Hockey: Orange High 5 def Dubbo 0.

Tennis: Dubbo 10 def Orange High 6.

TODAY’S PROGRAM:

Athletics: 9.15am (Orange High).

Girls’ football: 11.45am (Orange High).

Boys’ football: 1pm (Orange High).

Rugby League: 2.30pm (Orange High).