The inside backs, numbers nine, 10 and 12 each scored a brace of tries as the Miners pack steamrolled their opponents.

Full-back Josh Manderson capped it off with a near faultless display of goal kicking, going five of six.

The Border Army Dogs were completely outplayed at the scrum and the breakdown as the Miners pack drove forward relentlessly. In the scrums, Bendigo won its own ball effortlessly, and on Army ball either won the tight head or spoiled Army possession.

Half-back Steve MacDonald opened the scoring for Bendigo after four minutes when he charged down an Army clearing kick at a five-metre scrum and won the race to the loose ball.

Centre Johneen Fagavao followed 10 minutes later with a neat try after a scissors movement with five-eighth John Jeffries.

After 20 minutes, MacDonald scored his second try when he went over in the corner following number 8 Nick Dehnert’s pick up and drive at a five-metre scrum.

Manderson missed the conversion attempt in his only miss of the day.

Jeffries scored the next two tries to give the Miners a substantial lead at the break.

At the breakdown, the big Bendigo forwards made inroads up the middle almost every time they hit the ball up.

With a glut of quality ball, the Miners scored five tries in the first half to go out to a 33-0 lead at the break.

Bendigo extended this to 40-0 five minutes into the second half, with a converted try to Johneen Fagavao.

They then took the foot off the throttle as Bendigo coach Alan Wilkinson emptied the bench.

This allowed the Dogs to win some possession and they finally scored in injury time.

The Tyson’s Reef Hotel player of the day award went to hooker Elson Tuitupou.

Others to play well were prop Nick Poingdestre, lock Jesse Tuitupou, flanker Allan Saville, MacDonald and Jeffries.

The grand final will be played next Saturday at Sparks Reserve, Box Hill at 12.15pm.

Team and supporters bus will leave North Bendigo Sports Club at 7.30am.

Scorers: J. Fagavao 2, S. MacDonald 2, J. Jeffries 2 tries; Manderson 5 goals.

Team: 1T. Henderson, 2 E. Tuitupou, 3 J. Tuitupou, 4 N. Poingdestre, 5 K. Uerata, 6 A. Saville, 7 D. Fallaver, 8 N. Dehnert, 9 S. MacDonald, 10 J. Jeffries, 11 N. Whittle, 12 J. Fagavao, 13 M. Crichton, 14 S. Fagavao, 15 J. Manderson, 16 N. Potae, 17 P. Clark, 18 L. Eriksen, 19 N. Anfuse, 20 A. Wilkinson, 21 P. Thomas, 22 W. Trimble.