ARMIDALE warmed up for the semi-finals with a big win while Barbarians rolled Robb to secure minor semi-final hosting rights as the New England regular season wrapped up on Saturday.
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The Blues were too strong for Glen Innes, powering their way to a 71-5 win.
Baa Baas didn’t do it as comfortably but the result was the important thing for them, their 37-18 win earning them home advantage for their rematch with Robb.
It will be played on Sunday, with the major semi-final between the Blues and St Alberts on Saturday.
Blues coach Anthony McMillan was delighted with Saturday’s effort for their final hit-out.
“I’m pretty happy with the result, and the way we played,” he said.
“Everything we put into play worked pretty well.”
The first 15 minutes was to and fro as they tried to work out where the Elks’ weaknesses were.
They found one early.
“The first scrum of the day we took off them,” McMillan said.
“That set the platform for the day.
“We dominated the scrum. We won several tight heads.”
Where they really caused havoc though was through the backs, particularly the inside backs.
“John Roberts scored three tries in five minutes,” he said.
“All just brilliance on his part.”
He didn’t last long though after that, forced off after having dizzy spells.
“I had the luxury of playing the bench and giving some of the key players a rest,” McMillan said.
They all did well.
“Ben Hanlan scored a couple of tries when he came on,” he said.
And while it was in the backs where they really did the damage, the forwards dominated the points, with second-rower Jack Hodges earning the three and breakaways Angus Webb and Cedric Fadel picking up the two and one.