After the Waratahs were eliminated at CSU on July 7, the Tiaratahs were sent to within a game of elimination on Saturday as CSU Blue scored 16-12 at Blackheath’s Don Bradman Oval.

The red and greens led 12-10 with three minutes left when an opposition player scooped up a Kandos knock-on, running 30 metres for the match-winning try.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a group of 16 girls dead quiet after a game so it definitely upset them,” Kandos coach Emma Ashford said.

“Our problem was that we started to bicker on the field and once we got ahead, we wanted to play to score tries rather than play to defend.”

“We will come out firing next weekend that’s for sure.”

The Tiaratahs will play for a spot in the grand final on Saturday against CSU yellow as they look to play blue again and prevent an all-university grand final.

Ashford commended her team’s effort, but gave a strong wrap to Clare Warton who was the coach’s best on ground.

“She scored two tries and was the best player on the field,” Ashford said.

“Brydie (Knihinicki) and Carlee (Vanderhaar) also stood out and had great games.

Clare Warton was able to pin-point more strengths her side showed on Saturday before it was ultimately the victim of a bit of bad luck.

“Our defence and line speed was really good and that showed as we held their attack out for so long in the first half,” Warton said.

“We gave it our all for 50 minutes...they just had that one, lucky break.

The league tag match preceded the men’s main event as the Blackheath Blackcats booked themselves a spot in the grand final with an 18-4 win over the Orange Barbarians who were without skipper, Ben Gosper.

All major semi finals games will be at Wade Park on Saturday as the Barbarians host the Mungoes and the Tiaratahs clash with CSU Yellow.

All sides will compete for a place in their respective grand finals.