Written by Brumies.rug, courtesy of act.rugby Source article
ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union host the ACT Rugby Grand Finals today at Viking Park, Wanniassa.
Tickets are available at each entry gate at a price of $10 for ages 16 and above, and free for Juniors (15 and under).
Finals matches are also available to stream LIVE on Bar TV here .
Game Day Schedule: Qualification Finals – Sunday the 18th of August
Field 1
- 9:30AM AEST – Premier Colts (Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles)
- 11:40AM AEST – Spence Cup (Gungahlin Eagles v Tuggeranong Vikings)
- 1:45PM AEST – Premier 15s (Tuggeranong Vikings v Uni-Norths Owls)
- 3:30PM AEST – John I Dent Cup (Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals)
Field 2
- 9:30AM AEST – First Division Second Grade (Canberra Royals v Uni-Norths Owls)
- 11:40PM AEST – First Division First Grade (Uni-Norths Owls v Wests Lions)
Match 1: First Division Second Grade (Canberra Royals v Uni-Norths Owls)
The Canberra Royals have clinched the First Division Second Grade Premiership in convincing fashion with a dominant 54-0 over the Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park on Saturday morning.
The Royals received an early penalty in the opening minutes, kicking for touch to set up a lineout 22m from the opposition try line. And it was enough for them to get the ball rolling, shifting the ball wide for Ben Johnston to beat his opposite number to the line with an early 7-0 lead.
Canberra were off a running again when they found themselves in space down the right touch line. Before shifting the ball back the opposite way for Johnston to collect his second of the day for a converted try, Royals pushing the lead out to 14-0.
The Owls responded when they started to dominate the breakdown, giving them opportunities to put points on the board. Despite the increased possession and field territory, the Uni-Norths would head into halftime down 14-0.
Royals outside centre Jason Swain got his team off to a flyer when he barged his way over to tick the score over to 21-0.
The situation didn’t improve for the Owls when they lost a player to a red card for foul play. Canberra taking full advantage to increase their lead to 28-0 after Joel Penders added to the scoreboard.
Johnson would grab his hat-trick when he strolled over down the left touch line putting the match to bed. Fullback Jervis Hamilton adding two late tries for a powerful 54-0 win to clinch the First Division Second Grade Premiership.
Canberra Royals 54 (Tries: Ben Johnston 3, Jervis Hamilton 2, Jason Swain, Joel Penders, Samuel Ross; Conversions: Jervis Hamilton 5, Ben Johnston, Jacob Bindley) def . Uni-Norths Owls 0
Match 2: Premier Colts (Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles)
The Vikings return to the Colts big dance in 2024, meeting with a new dance partner this year in the Gungahlin Eagles.
The Eagles will have their work cut out for them as they look to prevent a back-to-back effort from the Vikings after falling to the Tuggeranong side in a one point thriller in the Qualification Final.
Gungahlin would manage to get on the board first in the 7th minute after a crash play from Malakye Enasio would pay dividends, scoring under the posts making for an easy conversion for Sam McLachlan.
Soon after, Gungahlin would score a similar try as Nathan Butt would also show his strength close to the line and barnstorm his way to a quick second try for Gungahlin.
Tuggeranong number 9 Wally Wentzel would however score against the run of play as a Gungahlin backline shift on halfway would land in Wentzel’s hands. Once he snatched the ball there was no doubt of him scoring Tuggeranong’s first try of the day.
Coming back out from the sheds Gungahlin’s Kadin Pritchard would return with a point to prove once again as the fullback would find a break and a try purely through his lightning speed under the Tuggeranong sticks.
Extending Gungahlin’s lead once again would be Samuel Pack finding some space on the left side before wrapping around for yet another try under the posts. With just over 15 minutes remaining the Vikings would launch their counterattack however as lock Wil Taylor would get his side back in the hunt with a much needed five pointer.
With another try late in the match, the Eagles would begin to sneak away with the match, as Tuggeranong face an uphill battle to chase down 17 points in less than 10 minutes. A nail in the coffin was prop Drew Brndusic slamming the ball down with just three minutes left cementing a Championship for his side.
Gungahlin 45 (Tries: Malakye Enasio 2, Nathan Butt, Kadin Pritchard, Samuel Pack, Drew Brndusic; Conversions: Sam McLachlan 6) def. Tuggeranong Vikings 21 (Tries: Wally Wentzel, Jonthan Ryan, Wil Taylor; Conversions: Joseph Lonergan 3)
Match 3: First Division First Grade (Uni-Norths Owls v Wests Lions)
The Owls got off to the perfect start when Joshua Story converted a penalty after an early Lion’s discretion for an early 3-0 lead.
Uni-Norths fly-half Jonathan Chambers would continue their fast start, winning the race to the ball to dot down under the posts to push the score out to 10-0.
But it would be next Owl’s try that had the Uni-Norths fans on their feet when scrum half Anthony Luchetti booted the ball down field to regather and score. Story unable to convert Luchetti’s effort from out wide.
The Lions came roaring back to life when they had an attack scrum a few metres out from the opposition try line. Wests pushing through for No.8 Matthew Logsdon to grab their first on Saturday morning.
Wests continued to pile on the pressure, before Montell Boyle crashed over to decrease the deficit to 15-12.
Though it would be the Owls who would respond shortly before the halftime siren after Wayne Seabrook burrowed his way over for a 22-12 halftime lead.
Uni-Norths Owls 22 (Tries: Jonathan Chambers, Anthony Luchetti, Wayne Seabrook; Conversions: Joshua Story; Penalties: Joshua Story) lead Wests Lions 12 (Tries: Matthew Logsdon, Montell Boyle; Conversions: Darcy Eason)
Match 4: Spence Cup (Gungahlin Eagles v Tuggeranong Vikings)
Gungahlin will have to keep up their season-long dominance in this decider as they come up against a side that is seemingly becoming a mainstay in the Spence Cup Grand Final, the Tuggeranong Vikings.
Steadily mounting the pressure over Gungahlin, the Vikings would open the match with a 14-0 lead after 25 minutes as hooker Joel Leiper dove over in the fourth minute followed by skipper Seamus Smith in the 19th minute.
At the death of the first half, Eagles scrumhalf would change the tides and nab his side a try of their own eventuating in just a seven point difference at the half.
Gungahlin would then even the scoring almost immediately after leaving the sheds with a miraculous effort from winger Joe Sale sealing another try, converted by Day taking the score to 14-all.
Vikings veteran Andrew Robinson would prove to be the difference for the next two tries for his side as the took the Tuggeranong total to 28 points.
A Gungahlin Onslaught would then ensue as the Eagles scored two more five-pointers through Thomas Ciot and Isikeli Kava taking the match to a nerve-racking 28-26 margin in Vikings favour.
Vikings held onto their narrow lead to claim the Championship with Andrew Robinson claiming the man of the match honours.
Tuggeranong Vikings 28 (Tries: Joel Leiper, Seamus Smith, Andrew Robinson 2; Conversions: Isaac Thompson 4) defeat Gungahlin Eagles 26 (Tries: Billy Kirk, Joe Sale, Thomas Ciot, Isikeli Kava; Conversions: Lachlan Day 3)
Match 5: Premier 15s (Tuggeranong Vikings v Uni-Norths Owls)
The stage is set for a 2023 Grand Final rematch as the Minor Premiership winning Tuggeranong Vi-Queens look for revenge over the Uni-Norths Owls.
Tuggeranong advanced to the big dance with a comfortable 31-12 win over Gungahlin in the Qualification final, while Uni-Norths Owls moved on the hard way, leaving both the Royals and Eagles in their wake on the way to the decider.
After 10 minutes of play both sides were locked at nil all as they went through a tough battle to gain any territory to create an attacking opportunity. The Vi-Queens would manage to get the first stint of meaningful field position after about 15 minutes of play, however the Uni-Norths defence proved too strong as they turned away the Tuggeranong side.
The Vi-Queens would however find the first try after making their way back into Uni-Norths territory inside the last 10 minutes of the opening half. With a strong carry taking the ball out to the left, the ball would then be offloaded to Tijana Zdravevska for the opening try in the left corner.
Extending their lead in the 30th minute would be the Vi-Queens through Siena Edwards after a slick shift through the midfield with a strong carry by Merania Paraone opening up the field for Tuggeranong’s second try.
On the verge of halftime a barnstorming Tabua Tuinakauvadra would put an exclamation mark on the Vi-Queens first half as the number eight barrelled her way through for a five pointer taking the score at the break to 15-0.
Paraone went on to continue her standout performance as she then found a try early in the second half, due to her unstoppable running game. Uni-Norths did not have any room to breathe though with the Vikings crossing once again in the 46th minute through Susana Rogoyawa.
Zdravevska would soon nab her second try of the match as the Vi-Queens continued their dominant streak as they edge close to a Premier 15s championship. With just over 15 minutes remaining in the match fullback Grace Tai managed to exploit another misfire of the Uni defence, resulting in the sides seventh try.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Tuggeranong Women would really put their foot on Uni’s throat as they found another try through Easter Savelio pouncing over the white stripe, converted by Siena Edwards the side now hold on to a 44-0 lead.
Uni-Norths would collect a consolation try after the whistle taking the final score to 44-5
Tuggeranong Vikings 44 (Tries: Tijana Zdravevska 2, Siena Edwards, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Merania Paraone, Susana Rogoyawa, Easter Savelio; Conversions: Siena Edwards 2) defeat Uni-Norths Owls 5 (Tries: Ashley Fernandez)
Match 6: John I Dent Cup (Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals)
The Canberra Royals have become champions once again, lifting the BentSpoke John I Dent Cup trophy after a 34-19 victory over the Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park this afternoon.
The Vikings would open the scoring of the match in the eighth minute after a lineout within 22 of the Royals line was converted into points after hooker Samuel Thomas dove over the line in a rolling maul effort from Tuggaranong.
Taking a chance at points early, Royals number nine Pedro Rolando opted for a penalty goal option in the 15th minute of the match to give the Royals their first points of the afternoon.
Undeterred from Royals’ first points, the Vikings would find another try in the 20th minute as a shift to the right hand side thanks to a bullet-pass from Tuggeranong 10 Ryan Lonergan found its man, resulting in a points to Shane Wilcox in the right corner.
The 24th minute would be a huge one for the blue baggers however, with a strong rolling maul resulting in a penalty try to the side, and a yellow card to Vikings workhorse Baden Godfrey. Following the newfound points to Royals, the scoreline sat at 12-10 in Vikings favour.
Evening the playing field soon after, Royals loosehead James Bundy also found his way alongside the timekeepers with a yellow card of his own.
Tuggeranong would come off best after being a man down however, scoring the next try with eight minutes left on the clock as Darcy Swain managed to burrow his way under the Royals line defence and score, with Lonergan adding the extras off the boot.
Just three minutes later Royals would get back to a two point deficit as Jarrah McLeod trampled through a one-on-one defensive effort and brought it around to score under the posts. Bringing the score to 19-17 the Vikings would remain up by two heading into the break.
With eight minutes gone in the second half, the Royals would take the lead for the first time in the match after another strong maul paid dividends with Connal McInerney putting his name on the try-scoring effort.
With 10 minutes left in the match, the score would remain 24-19 after both sides were struggling to gain any momentum to benefit them. With the ball travelling up and down the field, both Vikings and Royals had made some close escapes, however the ball mostly remained in between the two 22 lines.
a real turning point in the match with seven minutes remaining, Tuggeranong number eight Justin Sikimeti would have his outing ended early from a yellow card after collecting Royals Andy Muirhead high in a tackle.
Receiving a penalty close to the Tuggeranong posts, Rolando would take a penalty goal and extend the lead to eight points.
McLeod would get the put the nail in the coffin however, with a break down the left sideline leading to a final try to the blue baggers veteran Rolando. Securing a 2024 Royals John I Dent Cup Championship.
Canberra Royals 34 (Tries: Jarrah McLeod, Connal McInerney, Pedro Rolando, Penalty Try; Conversions: Pedro Rolando 3;Penalty Goals: Pedro Rolando 2) defeat Tuggeranong Vikings 19 (Tries: Samuel Thomas, Shane Wilcox, Darcy Swain; Conversions: Ryan Lonergan 2)
