The final round of the New England Rugby season this Saturday looms as a decisive one with the bottom half of the table all but decided.
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St Albert’s College are clinging to fourth place and a spot in the finals after being outclassed by Armidale Blues in round 14 with Tamworth hot on their heels in fifth.
The Blues came out firing against the students and shot out to a 10-nil lead early in the encounter.
They continued to dominate up the middle and held a 20-5 advantage at half-time. Armidale added a further 21 points to their tally in the second session and thwarted off a late flurry by Albies to finish the match as 41-26 winners.
Blues co-coach Luke Stephen said his team muscled up in the forwards to allow their speedsters to put points on the board.
“We were able to put early pressure on Albies in what was a really physical game to create opportunities,” he said.
“It was a strong showing from our backs with Joe Halaapiape scoring three tries but that is not happening and those points aren't being scored without the platform that is being set by the guys in the forwards.
“It meant we are in a position to put ourselves in position to win the minor premiership this weekend which the boys are happy about.”
Over at Bellevue Oval, the Barbarians emerged as a force to be reckoned with after notching up a four-point win over Robb College through tough and determined defensive effort.
Baa Baas co-coach Greg Wynn said his team’s early efforts with the ball in hand were scrappy but, on the back of good defence, they managed to cling on and land a 26-22 win.
“We defended for the first-half non-stop. It must have been 30 plus minutes in our own half defending,” he said.
“We made some poor decisions when we did get the ball and gave territory back, gave possession back to Robb the whole time.
“They threw everything at us, we were pretty ugly in the first-half but our defence was very pleasing.”
The Baa Baas started the second-half stronger but, as they have done many times this year, Robb staged a late comeback.
“We got out to a pretty good lead to the point where I think maybe some of us thought we had it won,” Wynn said.
“Robb aren't at the top of the table for no reason, they are a quality side and came back.
“They have been finishing strong in a lot of their games and they did it again.
“They scored a couple of quick tries at the end and got it back very tight and we just held on for the last five or 10 minutes.
“In a way we were very lucky we were able to finish the game and come away with it.
“The boys were out on their feet several times throughout the game and it was a credit to them and how hard they have worked and the belief they have in themselves now that they were able to hold out.”
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