The decisive win puts the Blacks in a strong position leading into next week’s semi-final against Rivcoll in Wagga. Playing without reserves and lacking a number of their strongest players, Hay were never competitive against the Blacks for the length of the game, played at the Coro Club.

Blacks coach Ashley Gunn said the dominant win gave the team a good opportunity to put some of the tactics they learnt in training into practice.

“We just tried to concentrate on getting our structures right and play pretty much how we want to play in the finals,” he said. “Yesterday we just tried to practise those things that we didn’t quite get right in training.”

Gunn said the team would need to work on their breakdowns, scrums and line-outs to take on tough sides like Rivcoll. “We need to be a bit more intense at the breakdown, and against these lower sides it’s a bit harder,” he said.

“Hay was probably not the most ideal game before the finals; we wanted a bit more of a challenge.”

Gunn mentioned Andrew Fifita, Drew Braithwaite and Chris Molineaux as stand-out players in Saturday’s game.

But all players will need to put in strong performances in the away semi-final against rivals Rivcoll.

“They’ve ended our season the last two years, so we won’t need much to motivate the boys,” Gunn said.

“It will be a tough even match, and we’re looking forward to the contest.”

A late surge from the Blacks took them ahead of Rivcoll last time the teams clashed in July, with a less than comfortable 21 to 15 scoreline.

The semi-final next Saturday is expected to be even tougher, with Rivcoll having the home advantage.