The NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies are in pole position to sew up minor premierships with the Queensland Reds hot on their heels after an action packed Round Four of Super Rugby U16s and U19s.
The Brumbies extended their lead atop the U19s ladder with a clutch win on the road in Sydney after the Waratahs' earlier domination in the U16s fixture.
However, the Reds' perfect travel round against Western Force saw both their U16s and U19s side launch second place with one round remaining and a home final at Ballymore within reach.
Rugby.com.au recaps all the action from Round Four:
The NSW Waratahs all but punched their ticket to the November 3 decider with an 87-7 thrashing of their bitter rivals ACT Brumbies at Pittwater Rugby Park.
Flying winger Samuela Sorovi was NSW's chief destroyer with four tries while flyhalf Talen Risati and replacement outside back Jack Kalms also bagged braces in the 13-try rout.
Risati and Sorovia terrorised the Brumbies defence early, scoring two tries apiece and setting up another for halfback Jeremy Rath before Kden Carter's long-range effort saw the Tahs lead 42-0 after just 26 minutes.
Three yellow cards against NSW and a sniping try from Brumby Charles McBaron couldn't stem the bleeding either as Sorovi snatched tries either side of half time with Kalms' double and further tries Oliver Smith, Saxon Gaw and Nicholas Kotorac icing the win.
A sparkling double from Australia U20 fullback Shane Wilcox proved the difference as ACT Brumbies U19s avenged their U16s loss with a 29-14 victory over the NSW Waratahs
ACT's 15-point win dealt a dagger blow to NSW's hopes of making next month's decider with captain Wilcox steering his side further atop the U19 ladder.
The Brumbies led after just 60 seconds via flying winger Silas Pilot but couldn't shake the Waratahs, who clawed their way back in front with a 21st minute try to Eamon Doyle.
A trademark ACT maul try to Lipina Ata saw the visitors regain the lead shortly after and the tide turned further when Tahs winger Brendan Palmer saw yellow for a professional foul.
Wilcox sprung to life with the extra space out wide, scoring twice in an eight-minute blitz to put his Brumbies ahead 22-7 at half time but the Tahs weren't done yet with Tom Klem's 46th minute try reducing the margin to just eight.
It took a clutch play from Brumby Billy Hansen to kick his side clear with the big lock's 51st minute charge down allowing reserve hooker Bailey Buesnel to scoop up a loose ball and score the eventual matchwinner.
The Reds have one foot in a Super Rugby U16s grand final berth after dominating the Western Force 48-5 in Perth.
Wing sensation Roldan Waike bagged a hat-trick in the eight-try rout with James Aleni the hosts' only scorer as Queensland turned the screws at Revo Fitness Stadium.
Long range tries to Waike and fullback Hemi Rakuita saw the Reds streak ahead early and it took a spectacular ankle tap from Rhymen Marsters to deny Malakaih Beals a third in quick succession.
However, Queensland's momentum couldn't be halted with lock Jack Calleja and centre Rohan Nicholl crossing to earn a 26-0 half time lead.
From there, it became the Roldan Waike show with the winger scorching his left wing twice more either side of tries to Lincoln Dalton and Alfie Bowman en route to a 43-point win.
Queensland's U19s also put themselves in the grand final frame with a Daniel Malum-inspired 45-17 win over Western Force lifting them to second place with one round remaining.
The Reds fired early with Finlay King and Brody McLaren scoring in the first eight minutes, McLaren's coming from a blistering play sparked inside their own 22m.
Queensland's champagned rugby continued in the 17th minute with Dre-Dyn Laban and Daniel Malum combining to put Xavier Rubens away before a sharp box kick paved way for Malum's first of the afternoon.
Tafito Ahki clawed one back for the hosts from close range but Malum couldn't be kept out of the contest, latching onto a high ball and creating space for McLaren's second on the stroke of half time.
Trailing 33-5, the Force needed to strike first and did so through a sniping Ahki once more with Henry James' conversion drawing the margin back to 22.
The two sides traded tries between Cooper Hoare and Tevita Alatini but it was Malum who had the last laugh, linking up with Rubens down the right edge to ice Queensland's victory.
