Each of the district winners played four games, with Armidale winning three and drawing one to lead the overall point standings with 18, six ahead of nearest challenger South Tamworth.

Armidale took the advantage over South Tamworth in the very first game on Saturday with a 57-45 win setting the trend.

Lightning Ridge had a narrow 54-52 win over Inverell East in the other game.

That put the two winners on level pegging after the first round but round two saw Armidale record a 70-40 win over Lightning Ridge to jump out in front.

Inverell East bounced back to beat Gunnedah 73-54 in the other game.

While Armidale had the third-round bye, South Tamworth and Lightning Ridge took the chance to bridge the gap.

Central North representatives South beat Gwydir champions Inverell East 83-49 while Barwon champions Lightning Ridge accounted for North West winners Gunnedah 63-59.

On Sunday, Armidale made it three from three with a 76-42 success against Gunnedah and South Tamworth moved into outright second place with a 73-52 win over Lightning Ridge.

But just as Armidale looked like finishing with four from four, Inverell East pushed the frontrunners from the Northern Tablelands all the way in a 47-all draw.

Gunnedah also upset South Tamworth’s chances with a 62-54 win in the other game of round five.

That leaves Armidale out on front on 18 with another series of round robin matches to play, with South Tamworth next best on 12 and Lightning Ridge holding onto third with 7.5.