A three try burst in the first 15 minutes set the three-times defending champions up for the win after nothing separated the two sides at half-time.

Andrew Wynne crossed right on the stroke of half-time to lock up the scores at 17-all with the conversion.

It was a see-sawing tussle with the students leading early, and then after falling behind jumping out to a 17-5 lead midway through the half.

Their surge came on the back of some great interplay between the backs, winger Harry Webber finishing off a move that started back inside their half for their second try.

Pirates were swift with their response, Conrad Starr backing up in support to cross for his customary try.

They then struck first in the second half.

Not long after Starr caught the Albies defence unawares off a quick tap for his second.

Minutes later he combined with winger Brodie Sowter, Sowter putting on a nice step to finish, to push Pirates out to 36-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Albies pulled one back after some sharp work from fullback Dan Sweeney but Pirates were too big and too strong.

“We built throughout the whole tournament,” Pirates coach Matt Kelly said. “We were a bit rusty yesterday (Saturday).”

But there was little sign of any rustiness by yesterday afternoon, their ability to keep the ball off the ground a real feature and hard for the students to combat.

“There was just a real eagerness to support,” Kelly said.

“We’re really trying to emphasise that ethic of working for your mates.”

His main message at half-time was to stay composed. They knew if they could build the pressure the opportunities would come.

“There was no point in us chasing those young guys around,” he said.

“Once we kept the ball and could build the phases the likes of Conrad could really step up and find a few lazy ones (defenders).”

It was a big effort from Starr all weekend. He, Wynne and Tim and Sam Collins played every minute.

Kelly was also particularly impressed with Nick McCrohan in the second row, stepping up from the 18s.

He and Hayden Griffiths both ended up starting most games.

Pirates and Albies earned their finals spots by topping their pools, the draw having to be rejigged at the last minute after both Robb sides pulled out late on Friday afternoon.

The win takes Pirates to just one away from emulating Parramatta’s feats back in the early days of the tournament.

They won five between 1985 and 1989.

Hosts Armidale did enjoy some success beating Barbarians in the Plate final 18-7.

Albies also got their hands on some silverware with the 2s prevailing over Inverell 19-10 in the Cup.