It was a great hit-out heading into the semi-finals, which will see Albies match up against their nemesis Armidale in the major semi-final on Saturday while Baa Baas tackle Robb College in the knockout minor semi-final.

Albies co-coach Tom Newsome said it was a pretty ordinary day for footy, with both sides guilty of making a lot of mistakes.

"We were happy enough. We defended well and we scored two tries off rolling mauls," Newsome said.

"There was a period there where it was 17-13 and they were in the game and putting pressure on us," he said.

They alleviated that with a try to go 22-13 with about 10 to go.

"It was a pretty solid effort in the forwards from both sides," Newsome said.

"We'd get the ascendancy, then they would."

The forwards scored all of the students' tries, indicating that that was where it was won.

"The scrum was very good," Newsome said.

"We felt like we were dominant in the scrum.

"The other part of the jigsaw is defence."

Barbarians knew what they were up against.

"You give them opportunities and they take them," Baa Baas coach Tom Bower said.

"We gave them a few too many opportunities in the first half, which gave them a good lead.

"We turned over the ball a bit and our first-up tackles hurt us and relieved a bit of pressure.

He was really happy with the forwards.

"Our forward pack worked well in terms of getting across the gain line," he said.

"They never went back."

Cody Graham was "brilliant" at the breakdown.

He would have snaffled four or five turnovers at crucial times to relieve some pressure.

Luke Heagney and Hayden Selff also had strong games.