ORANGE High School led from start to finish in yesterday’s Astley Cup netball fixture at Orange PCYC, securing a comfortable 16-goal victory to exact revenge on Dubbo College Senior Campus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dubbo knocked Orange out of the New South Wales Combined High Schools competition earlier in the year, and the hosts produced an inspired performance to claim a 44-28 (61-39 points split) victory yesterday.
The win also rubbed salt into Dubbo’s wounds after Orange High routed the visitors 15-1 (94-6) in the tie’s opening tennis fixture.
“It’s a bit sad because six of the girls are in year 12, so this is their last Astley Cup,” OHS Astley Cup co-ordinator and netball coach Tegan Dray said.
“In saying that, I’m very glad they all got to finish with wins over Bathurst High [last week] and Dubbo, especially because [the latter] did knock us out of the CHS competition.”
Orange’s first-quarter performance went a long way to winning the game. On the back of clinical work inside the circle from shooters Maddie Hales and Katie Eslick the hosts went into the first break leading 14-4.
Dubbo pegged it back to 19-15 at half-time, but a huge third quarter from centre-come-wing-attack Alex Kennedy had her side well and truly on the front foot heading into the final term.
Kennedy’s speed through the midcourt and crisp service gifted her shooters clean ball, and they took advantage as OHS headed into the fourth quarter with an 11-goal lead.
“Alex has been in the High A side for about four years now, and she’s always done really well,” Dray said.
The visitors needed something special in the fourth quarter and, after scoring four goals to one early in the term, looked possible of producing it.
But, as they have for years, the black and golds shut the game down, outscoring Dubbo 9-1 in the final stages of the quarter to earn a well-deserved 44-28 victory.
“I was really impressed with the girls’ intensity, and their ability to concentrate and stay on for the four quarters. I was really impressed with all the girls actually, and how they all played,” Dray said.
“Dubbo did make some inroads late in the game, but the girls pulled it back and got their minds back on the job to finish it off.
“Our home-ground advantage made a big difference too. Our crowd was amazing, and hopefully they continue to be in the rest of the sports [today].”
matthew.findlay@fairfaxmedia.com.au
