AN 11-try Hastings Valley Vikings blitz against Coffs Snappers booked the host team the first Mid North Coast rugby grand final spot on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Vikings won 65-10 at Oxley Oval, and ensured the season decider would be at the same venue in a fortnight's time.
Their opposition in the big dance is yet to be decided, but the Vikings have plenty of confidence to knock off whoever they come up against.
Coach Andrew Kable said that, for the first time in the three years he's been with the club, the team is coming good at precisely the right time.
The host team was way too good for the Snappers again on Saturday in the major semi.
Jayden Myer and Adam McCormack crossed for doubles. David Tunstead, Lyndon Gale, Hamish McCormack, Tom Woods, Waylen Skipps, Josh Hyde and Brennan Sinclair joined them on the scoresheet.
Gale booted five conversions.
Vikings started well from the first whistle, which has been customary all season.
A solid defensive game was at the centre of the plan, but that didn't stop them from scoring plenty of points. It was 38-0 at the break.
Kable said it was similar to last week's scoreline when the Vikings dismantled the same opposition 60-10 to lock in the minor premiership and club championship.
"They picked up from where they left off," Kable said.
It was hard to pick a highlight from the afternoon, given there were so many great moments.
Captain Andrew West, who has been in top form all year, pulled off a great tackle on half way before pilfering the ball and launching a counter attack.
It led to a Vikings try, and Kable was thrilled.
"It was easily the tackle of the year," he said.
It backed up the team's mantra of defence winning matches.
"The idea is to defend hard, and when you get the ball, it allows you to have a go," Kable said.
The scrum was again dominant, but a change to the binding techniques meant the Vikings gave fewer penalties away.
The team had to deal with a late personnel change at about lunchtime Saturday.
Waylen Skipps was pushed to the wing, and he had a ball.
"He had a field day," Kable said. Tom Woods was another standout on Saturday, playing at No.8.
Kable said it was a typically good performance from Woods.
Reserve grade also won its way to the big game in a fortnight, with a 24-11 victory over the Kempsey Cannonballs.
That team is also undefeated.
"The pressure's now on us to win the grand finals," Kable said.