ST Albert’s wrapped up the minor premiership while Armidale kept their top two hopes alive with big wins on Saturday.
It will all come down to the final round after Albies brushed aside college rivals Robb 43-17 and the Blues thrashed Glen Innes 62-6.
The only certainty is that Albies will finish on top, with the Blues’ win over the Elks leaving them and Barbarians to fight it out for second spot.
“Obviously we can only focus what’s in our hands, which is to beat Robb,” Blues co-coach Luke Stephen said.
“Obviously it was good to continue building towards the finals.
“But we didn’t really hit our straps until the second half.”
It was 12-3 for a lot of the first half, Stephen said, the Blues scoring almost on the bell to go into the break 19-3 up.
He said the big change for them came through their intensity which lifted in the second half and they were able to attack and unleash some of their “danger guys”.
Will Whale and front-rower Pete Cumming were both among their best.
For the Elks, it was not the finish they were wanting to what has been a tough season at times, but has had its bright moments.
Fatigue was the thing that really hurt them in the second half.
“We had the same problem we had every week,” coach Sam Price said.
“We had 15 players.”
