With two rounds remaining and each team still to have a bye, the Miners are two wins clear of Ballarat and cannot be caught, even if they lose next weekend.

The Miners will host the major semi-final on August 29 at North Bendigo’s Shadforth Park.

The minor premiership is Bendigo’s first since 2003.

Despite winning premierships in 2004, '05 and '06, Bendigo fought from positions down the ladder.

Miners’ coach Alan Wilkinson declared after Saturday’s game that the team was on track for the trifecta - Country 10s and Minor Premiership locked away, with the premiership, hopefully, to follow.

The battle with Ballarat was a high-scoring one.

Bendigo scored six tries, and Ballarat racked up four.

Defences on both sides leaked tries.

Johneen Fagavao led the way for Bendigo, scoring a double to bring his tally for the season to 15.

Ballarat opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a try under the posts when their centre kneed the ball through the Bendigo defensive line.

Fagavao’s first try three minutes later levelled the scores.

Bendigo hit the lead six minutes later with the try of the match. Centre Phil Thomas sliced through the Ballarat defence and chipped ahead for five-eighth John Jeffries to win the race for the touchdown.

Nick Poingdestre crashed over for Bendigo’s third try and a 17-7 lead before Ballarat struck back with a penalty try and conversion as time ran out in the first half.

The Miners established a winning lead, with two converted tries in the first fifteen minutes of the second half to lead 31-14.

They took the foot off the throttle thereafter.

The Tyson’s Reef Hotel player of the day award went to substitute half-back Steve MacDonaldOthers to show good form were locks Nick Dehnert and Kingi Uerata, flanker Allan Saville and Johneen Fagavao.

With Jesse Tuitupou unable to play because of injury and Poingdestre off the field, the Miners lacked penetration in the hit-ups.

Scorers - J. Fagavao 2, Poingdestre, Jeffries, MacDonald, Manderson tries; Manderson four goals.