The Orange Barbarians are riding a wave of both as Ben Gosper’s side continues its rise from fifth through the 2017 New Era Cup finals.

After knocking out Portland in the opening week of the post season, the Barbarians can now add defending premiers Villages United to its list of victims after a stirring 30-16 win over the Bathurst-based club last Saturday.

The Barbarians are now remarkably one win away from a grand final appearance in the mid west premiership, one utility gun Paul Rudd says is well within the grasps of the red, white and blue.

“Another really pleasing result for the team,” he said, Barbarians producing another inspired second half to run over the top of Villages.

“The second-half efforts I think can be put down to discipline and desire.

“There's a real feeling of hunger to win within the team and I think it's that desire that's getting us home.

Barbarians captain-coach Ben Gosper was instrumental in the win, breaking the Villages line on two separate occasions to set up tries for John Rose.

“Rosey is finding game-breaking form just at the right time,” Rudd added.

While forward Jarred and Trav Donlan were massive for the club throughout the middle of the field, helping Barbarians qualify for the team’s first preliminary final appearance since entering the competition seven seasons ago.

Gosper’s outfit travels to Bathurst to take on CSU Yellow, the students suffering a tough 19-14 loss to minor premiers Wallerawang in the major semi-final.

“We will need a big performance to topple CSU as they always play the full 80 minutes but I believe we can do it,” Rudd said.

Wallerawang will host its second grand final in three years at Wallerawang Sportsground where the two blues will play the winner of the coming clash between CSU and Barbarians.

In the major semi-final at Wallerawang the Warriors defeated CSU by five points to progress to the 2017 grand final.

Wallerawang took early points in the major semi-final after Ben Beecroft’s try in the fourth minute, and extended their lead to 8-0 following an 80-metre intercept by Nick Bender leading to centre Ryan Gurney’s touchdown.

An eight-point buffer was not a big enough lead to a CSU side that a week earlier put away an enthusiastic Villages United by a big score.

Riley Scully began the CSU clawback, his try converted 20 minutes into the game by Brad Rushby for 8-6, then a successful Rushby penalty goal allowed university to draw level 8-all 10 minutes before halftime.

Soon after the restart Billy Dickinson’s converted try took CSU to a six-point lead, but within two minutes the Warriors’ Josh Howarth’s self-converted try evened the score up again 14-all.

In the dying stages, playing with the wind behind them, a field goal and two penalty goals gave Wallerawang a five-point victory and a saloon passage to the grand final.

Virtually days now before next week’s grand final, and with so little between the remaining clubs, Wallerawang Warriors will soak up tension before and after the announcement of their rival while attempting to maintain fitness levels disrupted by lack of game time over the past month.