Both teams tasted success in their opening pool games last week, meaning it was a winner-takes-all clash at Parramore Park.

Important tries either side of half-time ensured Mt Austin repeated their efforts from last season.

Nick Skinner was happy to head back to the semi-finals stage.

"I think they came out in the start of the second half and blew them away a little bit," Skinner said.

"Jimmy Morgan and Cam Lyons stood up in the second half but it was a pretty good performance from all the boys."

He said it was exciting to be back in the top four after struggling for a numbers of years.

"Other than last year there hasn't been a lot of success for a fair few years but the boys love their footy and it is really good," Skinner said.

They looked the better of the two sides early on as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead after 13 minutes.

However TRAC hit back as Tom Fitzgerald stepped through the line to score and had another get chance right on their line just before half-time only for a Mt Austin interception which led to Jaleel King running 65 metres down the touch line to score.

King's effort pushed the scoreline out to 16-4 at the break before Mauryce Simpson added to their advantage just after it.

Cameron Lyons then scored to make it 26-4 before late tries to Mack Hamilton and Brayden Begg gave TRAC a high to end the game on.

Mt Austin will now play Mater Dei Catholic College in the semi-finals on Wednesday after a come-from-behind win in the grand final rematch.

Wagga High proved too strong in last year's decider but are winless so far this season after a 24-16 loss.

The defending champions jumped out of the blocks to lead 10-0 after Jayden Brown scored in the second minute before Sam Bailey extended their lead.

However Mater Dei responded after Wagga High winger Michael Driscoll was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

Ben Pollack scored off the resulting penalty and the teams went into the break locked at 10-all after Wilson Hamblin dived over to score with three minutes to play.

Tensions spilled over at the break and it was Wagga High who scored to start the second half when Bailey dived over.

Despite falling behind again, and getting back to play 13 on 13, Mater Dei responded as Hamblin busted out of two tackles to go 40 metres to score a level things at 16-all.

Pollack then burrowed over for his second to give Mater Dei the lead for the first time before Lachie Johnson scored off a scrum move to seal the win.

After a heavy loss to Kildare Catholic College to start the competition, coach Kurt McPherson was pleased with how the team responded.

"We talked about our game with Kildare and knew we just weren't up to it there," McPherson said.

"At times we didn't put that effort in that was needed.

"Our main focus was just to worry about us and to complete sets, it didn't start that way, but we certainly turned it around there halfway through the first half and built from there."

FULL-TIME

MOUNT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL 26 (J Baker, C Davis, J King, M Simpson, C Lyons tries; J Stewart 3 goals) d THE RIVERINA ANGLICAN COLLEGE 16 (T Fitzgerald, M Hamilton, B Begg tries; C Simpson, H Byrnes goals)

MATER DEI CATHOLIC COLLEGE 24 (B Pollack 2, W Hamblin 2, L Johnson tries; N Mooney 2 goals) d WAGGA HIGH SCHOOL 16 (S Bailey 2, J Brown tries; B Cronin 2 goals)