Home Team 17 def. Canberra Royals Premier 15s 5
BentSpoke Premier 15s – Round 6
Away Ground – Saturday, May 31, 2025

The Canberra Royals Women’s Premier 15s side put in a determined performance on Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell short in a tight 17-5 contest that showcased the competitive nature of this season’s championship.

Despite the result not going their way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, particularly the resilient defensive effort and the quality of individual contributions from key players.

The match developed into a classic forward-dominated encounter, with both sides struggling to find space in the wet conditions that made handling difficult throughout the 80 minutes.

The home side opened the scoring through winger Jacquiline Pele, though flyhalf Reese Vidler was unable to add the conversion as the hosts took a 5-0 lead.

The Royals responded immediately with flyhalf Janiana Ravu showing her class to cross for an excellent individual try that demonstrated the attacking skills that have made her such a key player for the team this season. However, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the scores level at 5-5.

The home team regained the lead when centre Shakira Milburn powered over for their second try, with Vidler again off-target with the conversion attempt as they led 10-5 at halftime.

The second half saw both sides create opportunities but struggle to convert them into points, with strong defensive efforts from both teams limiting scoring chances.

The decisive scoring came when fullback Clementine Utumapu crossed for the home side’s third try, with Vidler successfully adding the conversion to seal the 17-5 victory.

Head coach Darren Goodwin utilised his bench extensively throughout the match, demonstrating the squad’s growing depth. The numerous tactical substitutions saw players including Jane Phelps, Lucy Russell, Niamh Smith, Bonnie Brewer, Kiahan Bellchambers, and Bethany Robertson all contribute to the team effort.

Despite the loss, there were standout individual performances throughout the Royals lineup. Ravu’s try highlighted her attacking instincts, while the forward pack’s set-piece work provided a solid platform despite the challenging conditions.

The extensive use of substitutions showed the coaching staff’s commitment to squad development and ensuring all players gain valuable match experience as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, the team will take confidence from their competitive performance against quality opposition and use the experience to continue building towards the business end of the season.

MATCH DETAILS

Try Scorers:
Royals: Janiana Ravu
Opposition: Jacquiline Pele, Shakira Milburn, Clementine Utumapu

Conversions:
Royals: None
Opposition: Reese Vidler (1/3)

Penalty Goals:
Royals: None
Opposition: None

TEAM CHANGES

Canberra Royals Premier 15s:

Coach: Darren Goodwin
Assistant Coach: Justin Vandenbergh