THE skies were black, it was cold and it had even started hailing but the smiles couldn’t be wiped from the faces of Orange High School (OHS) students after they claimed the 2016 Astley Cup on Friday afternoon.
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Thursday and Friday's tie against Dubbo College Senior Campus was tight at times, both schools won four sports each, but Orange scored big victories when it mattered and won 428-372 away from home.
After defeating Bathurst 451-349 last week, it ensured the Cup will return to the colour city, regardless of the result of next week’s final tie between Dubbo and Bathurst.
OHS' win in Dubbo was so convincing the final event, the boys' soccer, was irrelevant, the black and golds had already claimed the tie by then thanks to wins in hockey and girls' soccer.
“It’s a pretty exciting feeling to regain the Cup,” OHS Astley Cup co-ordinator Tegan Dray said, before speaking about her school’s approach to the tri-school tournament.
“You’ve got to go in with the understanding every point matters and it doesn’t matter if you’re up or down.
“Every point matters and you can’t go out expecting to win or lose so it really, truly is a whole team effort in every sport in that regard.”
OHS took an 84-point lead into Friday's second day, which they kicked off with a thumping 4-0 victory in the hockey fixture.
Although, as Dubbo co-ordinator Rebecca May said, considering OHS' penchant for scoring double-digit wins a four-goal loss wasn't a terrible result for the hosts.
Dubbo bounced back though, predictably winning the rugby league 38-6.
At that point OHS led Dubbo 343-257 overall, setting up a grandstand finish should the latter side win the girls' soccer.
They didn't, the visitors did, sealing their victory and guaranteeing them the Cup as well.
May and Dray both made a point of praising all the students for the spirit in which the tie was played.
The atmosphere at every event was near-deafening while the schools' colours were splashed all over Dubbo for the two days of competition.
May added she had no doubt that will continue next week when Dubbo travels to Bathurst, but there was no doubt the final word belonged to Dray and Orange High.
