The visiting Denison College students had a 58-point deficit to overcome across the boys' and girls' soccer, hockey and athletics events but went undefeated through every contest to complete a spirited fightback.

Bathurst's 60-40 success in athletics pushed the school within striking distance and it was a 4-1 win in the girls soccer - a big 80-20 point split - which put them back in front.

The boys' soccer side found a 1-all draw to maintain the gap and the hockey outfit won 5-2 to secure the win.

Victory was well within Dubbo's reach coming into the hockey clash. Even a 2-1 win would've do the trick for the hosts.

However, the visitors set a stunning pace that Dubbo struggled to match, with the home team spending most of the first half fighting to keep Bathurst away from their goal.

Captain and goalkeeper Lilli Campbell made the Bathurst girls work hard for every one of their goals.

"She's actually just been away at a state carnival, where she's been selected in the state squad," Dubbo coach Jack Eckford said.

"It's was an unreal effort from her. She's a real leader on the team and to have a goalkeeper that good in a school team is a real privilege."

Bathurst coach Jacqui Hood conceded that it was always going to be a challenge getting around Campbell.

"We've come up against her a few times before, and we've tried to work out various ways to get around her," she explained.

Bathurst managed it once in the opening minutes of the game then struggled to find another way through before Dubbo equalised mid-way through the match's first half.

Dubbo struggled to find opportunities to capitalise on the momentum that they'd gained and moments before half-time Bathurst's captain Sophie McCauley dashed Dubbo's hopes with another goal.

McCauley was a constant threat throughout the middle of the field and inside the circle.

Dubbo's defensive efforts began to crumble in the second half and began to fade in the face of the more experienced hockey players on the Bathurst team.

"Their strong players really brought a lot of pace to the game, and our girls, especially the inexperienced ones, haven't really played a game with a pace like that," Eckford said.

Dubbo's best hockey shone through in the opening minutes of the second half where they managed a goal that briefly equalised the score at 2-all before Bathurst began to run rampant across the field.

The victory extended Bathurst's lead in the tie from 22 points to a final margin of 64.

"I think Orange High is always going to be a challenge and any Astley Cup is always open," Hood said.

Bathurst took an early lead in the tie in Thursday's opening day of play, courtesy of a win in the tennis.

They held onto that lead after a narrow loss in the basketball but it went away after a heavy loss in the netball.

A rugby league defeat extended the Dubbo margin going into day two but from there Bathurst began their memorable comeback.

Bathurst, the reigning champions, will host Orange High School next week in the second tie and will have the chance to claim their third straight title.

Should the Orange school win that leg the 2019 Astley Cup will come down to their home tie against Dubbo the following week.