Central North final four settled

Heading into the round, second to fourth spot were still up for grabs with one of either Moree (third), Gunnedah (fourth) or Pirates (fifth) to miss out on the finals.

The Bulls had the toughest assignment of the three - taking on arch-rivals and second-placed Narrabri.

And so it proved to be.

On the back of a hat-trick to centre Jacob Nichols and double to prop Will Turner, the Blue Boars triumphed 42-31 to complete an undefeated second round.

The Bulls fate was then sealed by Gunnedah and Pirates both getting up.

The Red Devils accounted for Scone 31-17 to clinch third and hosting rights for next week's minor semi-final.

"We're happy," coach Dan Martin said.

"We switched off in the second half pretty poorly, but we got home."

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There were a few nervous moments, when after leading 24-5 at half-time and with the bonus point already in the bag, the Brumbies stampeded their way to within seven points.

But the Red Devils held them at bay, Scott Mitchell scoring in the final couple of minutes to seal the victory.

There were some similarly nervous moments for Pirates.

Not so much in their game, with the premiers jumping out to a 33-nil lead at half-time and never really looking in danger as they accounted for Barraba 57-15, but they needed other results to go their way - either Gunnedah to lose or Moree to lose and only pick up one bonus point.

In the end they only managed the one (for scoring four tries) but for a good 10 minutes in the second half looked on track to take two points away from the game, which would have put them level with Pirates on points but ahead on wins.

"It was a nice turn of events which got us there," a relieved Pirates coach Mat Kelly said.

"We've just got to see if we can ride our luck a bit more."

In the round's other game Inverell downed Quirindi 36-7.

FINAL TABLE (Unofficial): Walcha 78, Narrabri 73, Gunnedah 69, Pirates 68, Moree 67, Scone 43, Barraba 30, Inverell 28, Quirindi 19.