St Albert’s secured themselves a major semi-final showdown with minor premiers Armidale Blues in a fortnight after knocking off arch-rivals Robb College 26-10 in one of the most highly anticipated showdowns of the season.
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The Blues and Albies are now far enough ahead on the New England Rugby competition ladder that this weekend’s results will have no bearing on who will contest the major semi-final.
Albies produced a dominant 80-minute performance to down their college counterparts at Bellevue Oval on Saturday.
“The boys played really well,” Albies coach Tom Newsome said.
“They did a good job executing the game plan.
“It was a tough enough game too.”
Albies were up 14-3 at the break and went on with the job in the second 40 minutes.
The students are renowned for having the best backline in the competition, but it was their forward pack who did the majority of the damage on Saturday.
All three of Albies’ tries were scored by forwards with lock Ben Sandell, flanker Sinclair Clinton and prop Will Turner all crashing over.
“Normally it’s the forwards setting things up for the back to score,” Newsome said.
“So that was a bit of a turnaround.”
Albies’ first two tries came on the back of rolling mauls from lineouts.
Dan Sweeney added three penalties to drag the final margin out to 16 points.
Skipper and inside centre Alex Pay was named man of the match for another brilliant performance, while Sandell and halfback Jack King also had tremendous games.
“Another great game from Alex,” Newsome said.
“Ben Sandell has been fantastic all year, his defence is exceptional, and Jack King has had a good year too.”
Albies have a bye in the season’s final round this weekend, but Newsome said his players wouldn’t be spending the time off with their feet up.
“We won’t be resting,” he said.
“We’ve got a couple of big weeks of training coming up to prepare to hopefully roll the Blues in the major.”