The Queanbeyan Blues have claimed the 2019 Minor Premiership at the 11th hour.
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In a first-versus-second showdown at Greenway on Saturday, the Blues and the Tuggeranong Bushrangers battled it out to see who would claim the number one spot ahead of finals.
In the end, the visitors emerged victorious by six points, 22-16.
The Bushrangers have sat at the top of the table for much of the year, but they have looked fallible at certain points.
They have struggled for the last fortnight, and after falling to a heavy 44-12 defeat at the hands of the Queanbeyan Roos last weekend, now go into finals looking to break a two-match skid.
The Blues, on the other hand, have rebounded from a mid-season wobble which saw them struggling with injuries and slip to fourth place in round seven.
Since then, the Blues have won eight matches with one loss and one draw.
Their run of form is eerily reminiscent to that of the Woden Rams in 2018, who surged from sixth place in round seven to second at the end of the season. Their efforts ultimately culminated in the premiership, which is a feat the Blues will hope to replicate.
But the path ahead will not be easy. The Blues will take on the Bushrangers once again this Saturday, however they will have the advantage of playing at Seiffert Oval this time around.
The pressure will be on Tuggeranong, as the Blues have been statistically one of the strongest teams all year.
With 508 points for and only 328 against, the Blues' differential of 180 is second only to the Goulburn Bulldogs' stellar 393.
However, unlike the Bulldogs, the Blues' defence has been consistent in 2019 and they will go into finals with confidence at a high.
The semi-finals will begin this Saturday, August 24. The Blues and Bushrangers will play at Seiffert Oval from 1.50pm.
Meanwhile, the Goulburn Bulldogs and Queanbeyan Roos will play at the Goulburn Workers Arena from 3pm.
The semi-finals will be followed by the preliminary final on Sunday, September 1, and the grand final will take place the week after on Sunday, September 8.
