THIS IS BRUMBIES COUNTRY
2019 is shaping up to be an exciing one for the Plus500 Brumbies, looking back, key moments for us were: •
We won 4 out of the 5 last games, including a resounding victory over the 'Tahs and were arguably the form side of the compeeeon
•
We had the fewest kicks of all the Super Rugby teams
•
We scored 30% more tries than in 2017
•
We rediscovered the Brumbies running game
•
We have re-signed the majority of the playing squad and signed some great talent with Toni Pulu, Pete Samu and Irae Simone
We can't wait for Friday 15 February 2019 when our next Super Rugby season kicks off at home. Your support is incredibly important to us and we hope you choose to run with us next year.
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FOR MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES: Visit BRUMBIES.COM.AU Email MEMBERSHIP@BRUMBIES.COM.AU Call us on 1300 228 278
GRAND FINAL WELCOME Welcome to Viking Park and the 2018 Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Grand Finals. We are looking forward to another wonderful day of club rugby to culminate what has been an exciting 2018 campaign. Our two finalists today, Canberra Royals and Tuggeranong Vikings have had to work exceptionally hard to make the big match and have been pushed all the way during a season that has seen plenty of ups and downs for all involved. We congratulate all the clubs that will be playing in Grand Finals today.
VOL 80 - ISSUE 20 SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2018
STAMPEDE CONTENTS
5
Order of Events
6
John I Dent Cup: Celebrating 80 Years
11
John I Dent: The Full Results
12
John I Dent: Did You Know
16
2018 Statistics
18
Previous Meetings
20
The Finalists: Canberra Royals
22
Today's Grand Final Teams
24
The Finalists: Tuggeranong Vikings
26
Looking Back: 1938
28
MacDougall Medal 2018
30
South Coast Monaro
31
The Finals
32
Colts Grand Final
34
Second Grade Grand Final
36
Women’s Grand Final
38
First Division First Grade Grand Final
40
First Division Second Grade Grand Final
Finally, I’d like to conclude by thanking our competition sponsors, Griffin Legal, Hahn SuperDry, Vodafone, McDonalds ACT, HART Sport and O’Neills for their continued support of club rugby in Canberra and the surrounding regions. I wish all our match officials the best of luck for today on what is also a big occasion for them. Enjoy today’s matches and may all the games be played in the correct spirit.
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Bob Hitchcock Shield
Mathew Vowles Competitions & Rugby Services Manager
Photography: Glenn Dawson, Chelsea Wilson, Michael Daniel [MDP]
In 2018, we were delighted to introduce the Bob Hitchcock Territory Shield and, I am sure you will agree, the addition of this challenge to reward home ground advantage during the regular rounds of competition has proven to be a success with games being given an extra impetus when the Shield has been on the line. You can read more about where the Shield ended up, and how it got there, on page 42 of this special Grand Final edition of Stampede. We have made a concerted effort during 2018 to make Stampede a publication worthy of our great competition and hope that you have enjoyed the contents this season. With this year celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup, it’s fitting that we recognise the history of the competition throughout this edition.
STAMPEDE 2018 Editor: Russ Gibbs Designer: Chelsea Wilson Contributors: Rian Murphy, Ayden Poynter, Etta McEwan, Eamon Moore
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canprint.com.au
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02 6295 4422
ORDER OF EV E NTS FIRST DIVISION SECOND GRADE GRAND FINAL
RMC v Tuggeranong Vikings Kick-Off: 9:35 (Field 2)
WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL Tuggeranong Viqueens v Uni-Norths Owls Kick-Off: 13:15 (Field 2)
FIRST DIVISION FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL Tuggeranong Vikings v ADFA Kick-Off: 11:25 (Field 2)
SECOND GRADE GRAND FINAL Queanbeyan Whites v Tuggeranong Vikings Kick-Off: 13:25 (Field 1)
COLTS GRAND FINAL Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites Kick-Off: 11:35 (Field 1)
GRIFFIN LEGAL JOHN I DENT CUP Canberra Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings Kick-Off: 15:25 (Field 1)
Photo: Chelsea Wilson
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CELEBRATING 80 YEARS: Pre-War-1969 The ACT local rugby club competition got underway in 1938 and from the very beginning the teams competed for a piece of silverware, a striking cup donated by John Dent. John Dent was a friend of WG Woodger (Uncle Bill & Ozzie) who was then the President of the ACTRU. John Dent himself was a wealthy Cootamundra grazier wo also owned shops in Civic, Kingston and Manuka. He retired to live in Canberra and took up a grazing lease on which is now erected the suburb of Weston. The inaugural First Grade Premiership Final took place on 6 August and RMC, who were to enjoy a healthy start to the competition in the pre-war years, took out the first Cup, downing Northern Suburbs 11-6 at Manuka Oval. The Military College defended their crown a year later beating Eastern Suburbs in the showdown and claimed the 1941 Final against the same opposition. In between, Northern Suburbs took home their first title. It was in 1942, 6 April to be precise, at the ACTRU 6th Annual General Meeting at the Hotel in Kingston that a recommendation was made to rename the trophy the John I Dent Cup after the man who had supplied the spoils. Unfortunately, due to the Second World War, the cup would not be competed for again until 1945. When play resumed in earnest it was RMC who, once more, were the dominant force. Two wins in a row in 1945 and 1946 precipitated a run of five successive wins as the 1950s hove into view. Even when RMC weren’t winning, their second team was as RMC 2 downed RMC 1 in the 1950 Grand Final, the former winning 17-15.
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Eastern Suburbs had won their first Final in 1947 and Canberra Royals claimed their first crown in 1954 with an 11-3 victory over Northern Suburbs. As the decade drew to a close Royals won back-to-back titles in 1957 and 1958 including a record 40-17 victory over Queanbeyan, the most points a team scored in a title decider until Tuggeranong Vikings racked up 44 against Wests in 2011. Queanbeyan were first time winners in 1959 but the sixties began with RMC bagging a trio of wins in succession, the last in 1962 their final taste of cup glory to date. Royals then won a treble of their won (1964-66) whilst Western District saw the transition into the seventies with their maiden win.
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS: 1970-1989 Park. The trophy success would be their last taste of the winner’s circle for fifteen years. Royals emphasised the changing of the guard by beating Wests 10-3 in the 1980 Grand Final.
Western District began the seventies as they ended the sixties, by lifting the John I Dent trophy with a 27-3 win over Royals. The dominant force in local club rugby throughout the decade, Western Districts were to win seven Grand Finals in ten attempts in a glorious run for the club. Royals were on the receiving end twice during this spell (1970 and 1976) as were RMC (1972 and 1974). Breaking the Western Districts monopoly of the competition were Northern Suburbs, led by the try-scoring prowess od D. Power, who claimed back-to-back titles of their own in 1971 and 1972 defeating Queanbeyan 8-3 and RMC 1713 respectively. Royals won their eighth crown in 1977 and would end the seventies by adding a ninth, a narrow 13-12 win over Queanbeyan sealing the deal. Whilst Royals would begin their won period of dominance on the local game, Western Districts reign came to and end with their 1978 win over Queanbeyan, a 17-9 success at Rugby
Queanbeyan sprung to prominence in the early 1980’s, following the trend of losing a couple of big games before getting their hands on the cup. The Whites had been beaten in the Final in both 1978 and 1979 before dragging themselves back into contention and winning three on the spin from 1981-83. Again, following the trend of success turning into decline, Queanbeyan would not win the tournament again until 2007. Similarly, Daramalan, lost two in a row in the early eighties before winning a couple of titles themselves. The team, that was to emerge as Gungahlin Eagles, actually played nine Grand Finals in succession from 1982-1990 but would only be on the winning side twice. As far as bridesmaid stories go Daramalan’s is pretty compelling. They would have their day in the sun again however, as we shall see. As the 1980’s drew to its close Royals emerged as the crack unit once more, winning in 1987, 1988 and 1989, and they would carry that run of from into the nineties with successes in the first two years of the new decade. Indeed, Royals met Daramalan in four straight finals from 1987-1990 and must have been truly sick of the sight of the men from Phillip.
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CELEBRATING 80 YEARS: 1990-2009 Whilst Royals began the 1990s as the preeminent club rugby side in the ACT they wouldn’t have it all their own way. The wins in 1990 (18-7 over Daramalan) and 1991 (1413 over Tuggeranong) were their only John I Dent Cup victories as they followed the trend of suddenly finding difficult what once was so easy. Six times in the following eight years they’d be forced to clap off the winners as the vanquished opposition. The first of those defeats was a maiden, and sole, success for University in 1992. An amalgamation of ANU and University of Canberra they saw off Royals 22-17. The club would later merge with Northern Suburbs in 2001 to form the Uni-Norths Owls as we know it today. Wests took up the baton once more in 1993, their first win since 1978, before the birth of the Tuggeranong juggernaut. Tuggeranong had reached their first Final in 1991, losing to Royals, but would be back with a vengeance in middle of the decade. Indeed, in a frightening run of form the southside club would contest twelve of the next thirteen John I Dent Cup Grand Final deciders, winning seven of them. The only final they would not compete in would be in 2002 when Wests defeated Royals 29-12.
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Tuggeranong’s first win in 1994 was a comprehensive revenge mission as they were too strong for Royals winning 30-10. The duo would meet in the next two Grand Finals as well but these would be much tighter affairs. Vikings winning 11-10 in 1998 and 13-10 twelve months later. Only Wests seemed capable of upsetting the Tuggeranong steamroller. They defeated Tuggeranong 13-5 in the 1996 showdown and embarked on a triple success of their own from 2000-2002, with Tuggeranong their victims in the first two Finals of the new Millennium. Royals returned to the big stage in 2002 to try and wrest the title from Wests but they too left with a bloodied nose, sent packing to the tune of 29-12. Wests would win again in 2005 but before that Gungahlin had their turn. The Eagles snatched a 26-20 win over Tuggeranong to win the Cup in 2003 but Tuggeranong reversed the roles a year later winning 33-13. Another win for Tuggeranong in 2006 against Gungahlin followed before the decade ended with Queanbeyan atop the tree, the Whites successful in 2007 and 2008 but losing out in 2009.
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS: 2010-2017 If losing in the 2009 Grand Final to Tuggeranong was a disappointing way to end the previous ten years, Queanbeyan were determined to make amends and did so by gaining ample revenge in 2010. The Whites claimed the spoils from an absolute thriller at Viking Park winning by 30-28, a wonderful match to kick-start the next generation of John I Dent Cup Finals.
a stiff challenge. Teams were getting closer though and Queanbeyan were unfortunate to lose 25-13 in 2014 before the dynasty came to an end.
Whether that defeat reinvigorated the Vikings is unknown, but something was definitely stirring in the men from the Valley and they roared back in the years that followed. Four wins in a row and five victories in six finals appearances, made them the team of the decade to date.
All good runs generally do and, as we have seen, the John I Dent Cup has thrown up many examples down the years of teams building successful Grand Final winning squads before seeing their streak come unstuck. For Vikings, this was to occur in 2015 as Royals ended twenty-four years of hurt by taking the silverware home. 1991 was the last time Royals had won the cup and now, as then, Tuggeranong were the side they sent packing. They wouldn’t have to wait as long to win again this time!
Wests, Royals and Queanbeyan all had a pop at dethroning the Vikings during this period of the game with Wests first to feel the force of a Vikings side that was as strong on the pitch as it was in good health off it. The 2011 Final saw Tuggeranong batter Wests 4418 and they repeated the feat a year later, albeit by a less impressive margin, this time winning by twelve points, 29-17.
You can’t keep a good side down however and Tuggeranong were back in 2016 and celebrating once more, a thirteenth Grand Final win, as they beat Whites 26-22. That brings us up to date to the last John I Dent Cup Final played, the 2017 version at Viking Park where Royals won an eighteenth Cup with a 28-12 defeat of Wests capping their perfect, undefeated season.
Royals stepped up to the plate in 2013 but they suffered the same fate, beaten 2821 as Tuggeranong utilised the nous and experience they had of the big day to grand effect, calling on all their reserves to hold off
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PREVIOUS FINALS: GRIFFIN LEGAL JOHN I DENT CUP 1938
RMC
11
Norths
6
1978
West
17
Queanbeyan
9
1939
RMC
14
Easts
0
1979
Royals
13
Queanbeyan
12
1940
Norths
12
Easts
3
1980
Royals
10
Wests
3
1941
RMC
6
Easts
6
1981
Queanbeyan
13
Royals
10
1942
No Competition
-
-
1982
Queanbeyan
23
Daramalan
3
1943
No Competition
-
-
1983
Queanbeyan
29
Daramalan
12
1944
No Competition
-
-
1984
Daramalan
22
Royals
11
1945
RMC
27
RAAF
3
1985
Royals
13
Daramalan
4
1946
RMC
22
Navy
12
1986
Daramalan
13
Royals
9
1947
Easts
17
Norths
3
1987
Royals
25
Daramalan
3
1948
Norths
14
RMC
14
1988
Royals
4
Daramalan
3
1949
RMC
28
Forestry Sch.
6
1989
Royals
12
Daramalan
7
1950
RMC No 2
17
RMC No 1
15
1990
Royals
18
Daramalan
7
1951
RMC
19
Royals
9
1991
Royals
14
Tuggeranong
13
1952
RMC
9
Royals
5
1992
University
22
Royals
17
1953
RMC
18
Royals
5
1993
Wests
28
Royals
25
1954
Royals
11
Norths
3
1994
Tuggeranong
19
Royals
14
1955
RMC
8
Royals
3
1995
Tuggeranong
14
Daramalan
6
1956
Norths
19
RMC
17
1996
Wests
13
Tuggeranong
5
1957
Royals
40
Queanbeyan
17
1997
Tuggeranong
30
Royals
10
1958
Royals
14
RMC
11
1998
Tuggeranong
11
Royals
10
1959
Queanbeyan
21
Royals
14
1999
Tuggeranong
13
Royals
10
1960
RMC
24
Queanbeyan
14
2000
Wests
14
Tuggeranong
13
1961
RMC
22
Royals
8
2001
Wests
23
Tuggeranong
20
1962
RMC
15
Royals
0
2002
Wests
29
Royals
12
1963
Norths
6
RMC
3
2003
Gungahlin
26
Tuggeranong
20
1964
Royals
12
Norths
6
2004
Tuggeranong
33
Gungahlin
13
1965
Royals
6
Norths
3
2005
Wests
19
Tuggeranong
17
1966
Royals
22
Norths
19
2006
Tuggeranong
39
Gungahlin
19
1967
Norths
9
Ainslie
3
2007
Queanbeyan
33
Gungahlin
12
1968
Royals
28
Ainslie
0
2008
Queanbeyan
22
Easts
15
1969
West
27
Ainslie
6
2009
Tuggeranong
30
Queanbeyan
28
1970
West
27
Royals
3
2010
Queanbeyan
30
Tuggeranong
28
1971
Norths
8
Queanbeyan
3
2011
Tuggeranong
44
Wests
18
1972
Norths
17
RMC
13
2012
Tuggeranong
29
Wests
17
1973
Wests
33
Easts
10
2013
Tuggeranong
28
Royals
21
1974
Wests
18
RMC
0
2014
Tuggeranong
25
Queanbeyan
13
1975
Wests
25
Norths
9
2015
Royals
21
Tuggeranong
17
1976
Wests
24
Royals
13
2016
Tuggeranong
26
Queanbeyan
22
1977
Royals
16
Wests
0
2017
Royals
28
Wests
12
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GRIFFIN LEGAL JOHN I DENT CUP - DID YOU KNOW? on got competiti ning b lu c y b gin local rug e very be The ACT nd from th of silverware, a 8 3 9 1 in iece RMC underway d for a p s compete d by John Dent. m a te e th te cup dona t final. a striking rths 11-6 in the firs o N defeated U 6th It was in 1942, 6 April to be precise, at the ACTR a that ton Kings in Annual General Meeting at the Hotel the y troph the e renam to made recommendation was ied the John I Dent Cup after the man who had suppl the War, World d spoils. Unfortunately, due to the Secon 1945. until again for cup would not be competed
Between 1984 and 1994 Royals played in ELEVEN successive John I Dent Cup Finals. They won six of them, including a record five in a row (1987-1991). In five of those successful matches they played, and defeated, Daramalan.
Royals set a record for most points sc ored in the John I Final when they plu Dent Cup ndered forty again st Queanbeyan in That was a record 1957. that stood until 20 11 when Tuggeran Vikings racked up 44 when they defea ong ted Wests. over the nd Finals ra G x si 017, in m 1938-2 t. ppearing Despite a e competition, fro igh tr u title o th course of nly ever won one ned Norths w eo n they do ey shared Easts hav 1947 whe th in h e g u m o a h c lt t Tha down, a w o sh e RMC. club 17-3 in th the most successful 1941 with Royals are currently ving the title in ha nces and victories in terms of appeara ord rec a on nt Cup Final reached the John I De ht ug bro its vis se en of tho 38 occasions. Eighte their d an 51 19 in s wa al success. Their first Fin first victory in 1954.
The lowest aggr egate points tota l in the John I Dent Cup Final is seven. That wa s achieved in 1988 when Royals defeated Daramalan 4-3. That four po ints is also the lowest points recorded by a w inning team in th e Final.
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The 1941 John I Dent Cup Final and the 1948 edition both ended in draws, the former a 6-6 stalemate between RMC and Easts and the latter a 14-14 draw between Norths and RMC. After extra-time in both games failed to find a winner, the teams were declared joint Premiers. Five teams have appeared in only one John I Dent Cup Final namely, Forestry School, Navy, RAAF, RMC II and University. University won their sole appearance, before amalgamating with Norths, claiming the 1992 Final with a 22-17 win over Royals. RMC II were also successful in their only appearance, beating RMC I in 1950.
The highest aggregate points total in the John I Dent Cup Final is 62, achieved when Tuggeranong defeated Wests 44-18 in 2011. The biggest winning ma rgin in a Final is 28, achieved by Royals when they defeated Ainslie 28-0 in 1974.
when a team has bene kept There have been five occasions Final. Easts (1939), Royals Cup t Den points-less in the John I 4) and Wests (1977) failed (1962), Ainslie (1962) RMC (197 big day. to trouble the scoreboard on the The most points scored by a losing team in a John I Dent Cup Final is 28, a feat recorded by Queanbeyan twice. Incredibly, the Whites lost successive Grand Finals in 2009 and 2010 to Tuggeranong Vikings by the same 30-28 final score.
JOHN I DENT CUP FINAL APPEARANCES: 1938-2017
JOHN I DENT CUP FINAL WINNERS: 1938-2017
38
Royals
18
Royals
21
Tuggeranong
14
RMC**
20
RMC
13
Wests, Tuggeranong
18
Wests
7
Norths*, Queanbeyan
15
Queanbeyan
3
Daramalan/Gungahlin
14
Norths, Gungahlin/Daramalan
2
Easts*
6
Easts
1
RMC II, University
3
Ainslie
**shared the title twice
1
Forestry School, Navy, RAAF, RMC II, University
* shared the title once
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VIKINGS ADVANCE TO GRAND FINAL
Photo: Glenn Dawson
Tuggeranong Vikings 58 Gungahlin Eagles 7 The Gungahlin Eagles run to the Preliminary Final was widely described as a ‘fairy-tale’. The Tuggeranong Vikings have no time for whimsical fantasy apparently. The Eagles dream of an unlikely Premiership turned nightmare last week, the Vikings clinical on their way to a 58-7 victory. The writing was on the wall from the get-go. Off the opening kick-off, the Vikings systematically shredded the Eagles for five minutes, leading to Sione Taula’s opening try. It appeared the Eagles could do nothing to stop them, setting the tone for what would come later. The Eagles never gave up for the eighty minutes and responded well to the Vikings hot start. Oddly, the Eagles had some quality possession in the home-side’s territory in the first half, but twice in ten minutes the Vikings forced a turnover, went up the other end and scored, Michael Oakman-Hunt getting the MinorPremiers second try, Brendon Taueki adding the third. At 19-0 things looked bleak for the Eagles, but they were handed a lifeline when Darcy Swain was sent to the bin with ten to play in the opening stanza. Gungahlin built pressure, and finally seized their opportunity, Rocky Ilolahia, who would later be sent off for punching Ben Hyne, dived over at the back of an Eagles scrum which was a bright spot for them on the day. Having been seemingly out of it after 25 minutes, the Eagles would have been glad to get to half time only down 19-7. The Vikings could have been forgiven for tightening up at this point,
having lost at the prelim’ stage in 2017. Instead, the Vikings came out for the second period with a look of steal in their eye, ready to make a statement going into a Grand Final rematch with the Royals. Vikings halfback Ryan Lonergan, who was majestic throughout, pushed the Vikings lead to 15 not long after the break. Moments later, the game was all but over. Vikings swung right through the talented duo of Noah Lolesio and Len Ikitau. Ikitau found Taueki with a peach of a pass and the rangy fullback showed why he was top-scorer in the league this season, muscling through three defenders to score in the corner. There was now no slowing down this rampant Vikings outfit. Their ticket to the Grand Final booked, the home side piled on the points in the final 20. A cracking score from J.P Mynhardt was followed by back-to-back efforts from young tighthead Angus Burns and a second for Oakman-Hunt, and finally after Andrew Robinson went over, the Eagles punishment was complete. A great season for Gungahlin, the ending may leave a bitter taste, but they will reflect fondly on 2018 no doubt. For the Vikings, it appears they are hitting their straps at the right time. Recent history doesn’t favour them against Royals, but if they fire as they did last Saturday, that will mean little. Minor Premiers in 2018 and now Grand Finalists. The Tuggeranong Vikings are just one win away from Valhalla. POINTS Vikings 58 (T: S. Taula, M. Oakman-Hunt (2), B. Taueki (2), JP Mynhardt, A. Robinson, A. Burns, C: R. Lonergan (4), B. Taueki (2), P: R. Lonergan (2)) Eagles 7 (T: R. Ilolahia, C: J. Gillard)
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GRIFFIN LEGAL JOHN I DENT CUP PREMIER DIVISION FIRST GRADE
The Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup leading points and try scorers for 2018. All totals include finals matches. Please note that for the purposes of McDougall Medal Awards night the top points and try scorers are calculated at the end of the regular season only.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (Includes Finals) BRENDON TAUEKI (Vikings) PEDRO ROLANDO (Royals) GEORGE MORSEU (Easts) SAM IRWIN (Owls) JP MYNHARDT (Vikings) RUTIKHA ILOLAHIA (Eagles) WILL GODDARD (Whites) JORDAN THOMPSON (Owls) ISAAC WALKER (Eagles) JAMIE MARMONT (Whites)
193 PTS 181 PTS 100 PTS 77 PTS 65 PTS 55 PTS 53 PTS 52 PTS 51 PTS 50 PTS
LEADING TRY SCORERS (Includes Finals)
BRENDAN TAUEKI (Vikings) 19 GEORGE MORSEU (Easts) 13 JP MYNHARDT (Vikings) 13 RUTIKHA ILOLAHIA (Eagles) 11 JAMIE MARMONT (Whites) 10 SETH GOING (Royals) 8 SIONE LOLOHEA (Royals) 8 CALLUM RICHARDSON (Owls) 7 BRODIE LEBER (Wests) 7 SEB LORRAWAY (Wests) 7
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Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup
2018 TEAM OF THE SEASON 1
Sione Taula (Vikings)
2
Sione Lolohea (Royals)
16 Michael Henry (Vikings) 17 Mees Erasmus (Easts)
3
Angus Wagner (Vikings)
18 Isileli Fa (Uni-Norths)
4
Will Morrison (Royals)
19 OJ Noa (Queanbeyan) 20 Michael Oakman-Hunt (Vikings)
5
Jake Helgesen (Gungahlin)
6
Ryan Kiely (Wests)
21 Pedro Rolando (Royals)
7
David Bennett (Uni-Norths)
22 Mack Hansen (Gungahlin)
8
Brodie Leber (Wests)
23 Sam Irwin (Uni-Norths)
9
Jacob Abel (Easts)
10 Isaac Thompson (Vikings) 11 Jamie Marmont (Queanbeyan) 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope (Vikings) 13 Noah Lolesio (Vikings) 14 George Morseu (Easts) 15 Brendon Taueki (Vikings)
Congratulations to Michael Oakman-Hunt of Tuggeranong who was named the Vodafone Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in the Preliminary Final clash between Tuggeranong and Gungahlin. Â With thanks to Vodafone Michael receives a set of Samsung LEVEL On headphones.
man of the match
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VIKINGS HEAD ROYALS IN GRAND FINAL MATCH-UPS Whilst Canberra Royals might hold the record for most Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Grand Final appearances and victories having played 38 Finals for 18 wins (see page 12-13 for a full list) when it comes to contests with their arch rivals from the Tuggeranong Vikings, it’s the men from Erindale who have the upper-hand. Indeed, the Vikings have won five of the seven season-defining showdowns between the pair, including a three-year run from 19971999. Manuka Oval provided the backdrop for the first Grand Final meeting of these sides with Royals, who had ended the regular season in third place on the ladder, edging past second-placed Vikings 14-13 in a tense encounter. Daramalan were the unlucky minor premiers who could not back-up with a place in the big game, Royals downing them 26-3 in the Preliminary Final. The Vikings had to wait three years to get their revenge, a five-point win at Manuka Oval in 1994 squaring the ledger. The 19-14 win was the Vikings breakthrough success being the first time that they had claimed Grand Final glory. Number 8 Jannie Breedt led the Tuggeranong team to the silverware after Royals had ended the campaign as minor premiers.
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The pair became regular opponents thereafter in the Grand Final, Royals sick to the death of seeing Tuggeranong in the
showdown as the Vikings recorded a trio of successes in 1997, 1998 and 1999 against the legendary Canberra club side. The first of these matches, the 1997 version, saw the Vikings romp to a 30-10 win at Manuka Oval, again knocking off Royals who had ended the season top of the table. The following years, 1998 and 1999 saw the Vikings end the regular season as the best of the pack and top of the pile, and then backed that up with a couple of narrow defeats of Royals, who were second on the table on both occasions. Vikings won 11-10 in 1998 and 1310 a year later and went on to record a 28-21 win in 2013. Royals had the last laugh though, their 2117 Grand Final win at Viking Park in 2015 completing a remarkable end to the season for a club that entered the finals in fourth place and knocked over Wests and Queanbeyan Whites to return to the big stage and claim a first success since their 1991 win over the same opponents. Played: 7, Tuggeranong: 5, Royals: 2 1991: Royals 14 Tuggeranong 13 1994: Tuggeranong 19 Royals 14 1997: Tuggeranong 30 Royals 10 1998: Tuggeranong 11 Royals 10 1999: Tuggeranong 13 Royals 10 2013: Tuggeranong 28 Royals 21 2015: Royals 21 Tuggeranong 17
THEY’VE MET BEFORE: 2018 PREVIOUS MEETINGS This afternoon’s Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Final between Tuggeranong Vikings and Canberra Royals will be the fifth time that the duo has met in this year’s competition with Royals currently leading the series 3-1. There’s been very little to choose between these two goliaths of the local scene for several years and this season’s trio of regular season encounters were no different with Royals sneaking an opening round win on the first day of the season back in April to kick off proceedings. It was the boot of Pedro Rolando that made all the difference for the Royals with the teams’ trading blow for blow on the try front. Vikings centre Len Ikitau crossed for a hat-trick for the home team, but they were pipped at the post as the Royals came out on top by the narrowest of margins, taking home the spoils with a magnificent 32-31 victory. Viking secured their revenge in the Round 8 re-match, also played at Viking Park as they recorded a 34-21 win, the biggest margin of victory between the teams this season as they ran out five tries to three winners. Fullback Brendon Taueki bagged a doubled himself and kicked three conversions and a penalty for a nineteen-point haul with Royals second best on the day. Photo: Glenn Dawson
Royals struck back to win the third clash of the season, a much closer 19-15 success at Phillip Enclosed Oval on Saturday 7 July. The Round 14 match-up had everything that you’d want from a local rugby fixture, plenty of fire and brimstone and no little quality as the teams went toe-to-toe. Taueki crossed for two more tries for the Vikings, but it was scores from Sione Lolohea, Michael Fakava and Pedro Rolando, the scrumhalf also converting two, that gave Royals the spoils. The most recent meeting was, of course, in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) only a fortnight ago when Royals became the first team to book their place in today’s encounter by out-gunning the Vikings 26-20 in a topquality clash at Viking Park. We’re hoping for a match of similar quality and intensity this afternoon. RESULTS 07/04/18 – R1: Vikings 31 Royals 32 (Viking Park) 26/05/18 – R8: Vikings 34 Royals 21 (Viking Park) 07/07/18 – R14: Royals 19 Vikings 15 (Phillip Enclosed) 04/08/18 – SF: Vikings 20 Royals 26 (Viking Park) Photo: Glenn Dawson
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CANBERRA ROYALS SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1949 HEAD COACH: WAYNE SOUTHWELL CAPTAIN: BEN JOHNSTON HOME GROUND: PHILLIP OVAL
JOHN I DENT CUP FINAL APPEARANCES: 38 WINNERS: 18
MOST POINTS
181 – Pedro ROLANDO
MOST TRIES
8 – Seth GOING, Sione LOLOHEA
The 2018 Champions are back in the Grand Final and there’s a familiar look to the side which went undefeated on their way to a Premiership last season. Some big names are absent from that team, but the core group remains, and the Blue Baggers will know that when the whistle blows for kick-off, they will have 23 players that know how to win when it counts. After Faalelei Sione moved to New Zealand to continue his Rugby journey, there was a clear hole at prop for Royals. Experienced tight-head Joel Penders has made the switch to loosehead, allowing the big ball-carrying Sione Mau to come in to the side. Mau was terrific in Royals Major Semi-Final victory over Vikings and they’ll need him again today. In the locks, Royals are boosted by Sam Carter, the Plus500 Brumbies captain. Carter had an excellent showing in his last outing for Royals, the stage obviously no problem for the experienced professional. Royals also boast a couple of superb backrows in Luke Kimber and Will Morrison. The double act were the two best on ground for the club at Viking Park in the semis and their contributions will be crucial in the Grand Final. The Royals backline is stacked. Pedro Rolando often takes on the bulk of creative duties from nine, with Jamie Bodman currently filling the flyhalf role. Outside Bodman, Matt Cole provides a second playmaker for Royals, which is important given the weapons they have outside. Lausii Taliauli, Andy Muirhead, Ben Johnston and Seth Going are lethal, with the
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two Brumbies players [Taliauli and Muirhead] in flying form recently back in the Royal Blue. The one player that Royals will miss is Tom Cusack. Cusack was breathtaking last season, singlehandedly winning games at times. In 2018, Cusack has been busy with the Brumbies but given he hasn’t yet cracked into the Wallabies squad, Royals may have hoped to bring him in, pushing them from favourites to near certain back-to-back winners. Cusack won’t be involved however, a let off for their opponents. 2018 has not been the easy ride 2017 was for Royals. Yet, here they are again, one win away from another Premiership. They will take some beating today.
Photo: Ch
elsea Wils
on
SEASON RESULTS
THE KEY MAN PEDRO ROLANDO While there are many stars in this Royals outfit, there’s one that glues the side together – Pedro Rolando. Known for his goalkicking, his work off the tee will be crucial in the GrandFinal. When Rolando is on form, Royals tend to roll sides so expect his performance to dictate the Blue-Baggers hopes of another Premiership.
R1: Vikings (a) W 32-21 R2: Bye R3: Eagles (h) W 38-5 R4: Easts (a) L 23-25 R5: Wests (h) W 38-19 R6: Owls (h) W 26-24 R7: Whites (a) W 28-20 R8: Vikings (a) L 21-34 R9: Bye R10: Wests (h) W 43-0 R11: Eagles (a) L 12-20 R12: Bye R13: Easts (h) W 33-7 R14: Vikings (h) W 19-15 R15: Owls (a) L 25-26 R16: Whites (h) W 28-24 R17: Wests (a) W 38-22 QSF: Vikings (n) W 26-20
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C A NB E RRA ROYAL S V
PREMIER DIVISION -
18 August 2018, 3.2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Joel Penders Sione Lolohea Sione Mau Sam Carter Nathan Selwood Will Morrison Luke Kimber Richie Mariota Pedro Rolando James Bodman Ben Johnston Matt Cole Lausii Tauliauli Seth Going Andy Muirhead
COACH: Wayne Southwell
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Referee: James Morris No4: Robert Whyte AR1: Brodie Ingram No5: Dave Trill AR2: Sarah Corrigan
V T U GGE R A N ON G V I K I N G S
- PRELIMINARY FINAL
25pm, Viking Park 1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Sione Taula Michael Henry Liam McGrath Darcy Swain Callum Smith Michael Oakman-Hunt Luke Gersekowski Ben Hyne Ryan Lonergan Noah Lolesio JP Mynhardt Jordan Jackson-Hope Len Ikitau Andrew Robinson Brendan Teauki
COACH: Nick Scrivener PREMIER 1ST GRADE COACHES TIP Dan Atkins (Gungahlin) – Vikings Craig Robberds (Wests) - Royals Tony ‘Doc’ Doherty (Uni Norths) – Royals Paul Dillion (Queanbeyan) – Vikings Tim Cornforth (Easts) - Vikings
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TUGGERANONG VIKINGS SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1973 HEAD COACH: NICK SCRIVENER CAPTAIN: CALLUM SMITH HOME GROUND: VIKING PARK
JOHN I DENT CUP FINAL APPEARANCES: 21 WINNERS: 13
MOST POINTS
193 – Brendan TAUEKI
When the final whistle blew in the Major SemiFinal, the Vikings stood defeated having been dispatched by Royals. Now, after hammering the Gungahlin Eagles in the Preliminary Final, Tuggeranong are back, looking to pillage and plunder their way to another Premiership. The Vikings are stacked with talent. Starting at the front, Sione Taula and Liam McGrath are a pair of seasoned campaigners, the former being the best loosehead in the competition this season. McGrath hasn’t played many minutes from tighthead this year but was excellent last week. Either side of the props, Michael Henry provides a steady hand in all facets, particularly at set-piece time. Callum Smith has lead the side from lock in 2018 and his partner Darcy Swain of the Brumbies will have a key role to play in the lineout. As will Michael Oakman-Hunt who joined Swain in the Brumbies setup for a spell this year. The bruising blindside earned the Man of the Match award against the Eagles thanks to his brace of tries and bundle of bone-crunching tackles.
MOST TRIES
19 – Brendan TAUEKI
He’ll play six most likely with Ben Hyne, another Brumby of course going at eight. Hyne was magnificent last week, incredible given that it was just his second game since tearing his ACL last year. The precocious talent of Luke Gersekowski completes the backrow. The halfbacks, Ryan Lonergan and Noah Lolesio are two of the best young players in the competition. Lonergan starred for the Junior Wallabies at the u20 World Cup and Lolesio
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will almost certainly follow next year. The centre’s pairing is equally special. A pair of brumbies, Jordan Jackson-Hope at 12 and Len Ikitau at 13. J.P. Myndhardt provides bags of pace down the left flank, Andrew Robinson on the right is a leader and a real x-factor for this side. At fullback, Brendon Taeuki is a bonified try machine. If rugby were played on paper, Vikings would walk to a premiership. The facts are Royals have beaten them three times from four this year and will be confident of matching the Vikings on their home turf. Still, if the Red and whites spark, the Blue Baggers will struggle to contain them for the 80. They are past masters of the big occasion and therefore will have no fear of Grand Final day. Will Vikings rule again?
THE KEY MAN
Photo: Michael Daniel [MDP]
RYAN LONERGAN Ryan Lonergan is truly the lynchpin of this Vikings side. The young halfback gives the team direction with his kicking game, releases their stacked backline by providing quality pill and will likely be handed the goalkicking duties. Despite his age, Lonergan will also be a source of leadership, having shown already in his young career that he’s comfortable on the big stage.
Photo:
Chelsea
Wilson
SEASON RESULTS R1: Royals (h) L 31-32 R2: Eagles (a) W 66-22 R3: Owls (a) D 17-17 R4: Whites (a) W 29-10 R5: Easts (h) W 71-24 R6: Wests (a) W 35-17 R7: Bye R8: Royals (h) W 34-21 R9: Whites (a) W 22-15 R10: Bye R11: Owls (h) L 28-31 R12: Eagles (h) W 31-21 R13: Whites (h) W 37-14 R14: Royals (a) L 15-19 R15: Wests (h) W 55-19 R16: Bye R17: Easts (a) W 57-33 QSF: Royals (n) L 20-26 PF: Eagles (n) W 58-7
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THE 1938 GRAND FINAL: RMC WINS GREAT FINAL The Canberra Times, Monday 8 August 1938 Norths were unfortunate in having to omit Desmond, who had influenza. Pinkney was hooker as Ward's injured step was still tender. 'Ward was at lock and Kirkwood moved to breakaway where, he performed ably. In the first two minutes, K. Harrison twice attempted a penalty goal, but missed. Norths had the wind behind them and attacked ceaselessly. Backs and forwards combined in one move, during which Denehy held the ball with one hand and his pants with the other, but Young cleared with a good kick to touch. Norths were nearly in when Foley fumbled and Seton and Larkin raced for the ball as it was lucked over the line but R.M.C.'s full-back won. Then W. Young missed a -penalty goal for' Norths followed by a dribble by Kirkwood which saw RMC lucky to force. W, Young was prominent in a fast Norths' thrust but Larkin cleared. A grand RMC backline burst saw Norths' territory invaded for the first time in the 25 minutes of play which had gone. Foley cut through finely and then Hassett had it but Smith brought him down. Then R. Dawson shot a pass to A. Young who made ground and an opening but Foley mulled the pass. Norths hit back and all the backs handled but Seton couldn't get to Smith's pass after W. Young had placed the attack in a good position. W. Young tried another penalty goal but the ball went under the crossbar. G. Dawson tried a penalty goal from the 25 but was wide and then RMC opened the scoring with three minutes of the first half left for play. R. Dawson sent the ball to A. Young from a scrum and the five-eighth left Pert standing and shot for the corner. He veered away from Colquhuon who had steadied himself for a cut-back by Young to the posts and then found it too late to bring Young down short of the line. G. Dawson failed to convert. R.M.C. 3-0. RMC staged another backline burst which ended with Brooker being forced into touch as the bell went. The second half opened with a sensational attack by the Greens. Smith had got away but was tackled and from a ruck, Denehy shot a blind side pass to R. Moore who dived for the line. Norths' supporters acclaimed a try but the referee had rightly ruled that the ball was grounded inches short of the line and then
carried over. From the scrum, Norths got a penalty and K. Harrison landed a nice goal to even the scores. The pace was on now with a vengeance and RMC were twice nearly over, Kirkwood saving a certain try by bringing Foley down and, then Smith cleared with a long kick Then Hassett was away on the wing and the ball travelled swiftly to R. Dawson to McLeod before Smith chopped his man a yard from the line. RMC were hitting with everything they had but Norths' defence did not wilt, the forwards playing grandly while Pert just misled a try from a long throw-in from a line out by Seton. Brooker had a clear field after beating N. Peterson hut his foot had gone into touch and then Godsell crashed through but Colquhuon’s tackle saved the try. RMC were a yard from the line when a free relieved Norths and Ward was in the picture with Seton in support but a knock-on stopped the rush. Colquhuon again saved Norths by bringing Hassett down and then R. Dawson started a move but Smith snapped up a loose pass and turned defence into glorious attack. He brushed off tackles, palmed Larkin away and sailed for the posts. Burns came at him but the ball went on to Seton who was over with Brooker draped around him. K. Harrison’s kick just missed but Norths led 6-3. With 16 minutes left for play, RMC staged a magnificent rally. R. Dawson got the ball to Foley who short-kicked with judgment and Brooker gathered. Colquhuon brought the winger down but Burns had it, and as N. Peterson tackled him he threw a long high pass to Eldridge who went over unopposed. Brooker goaled and RMC led 8-6. McLeod was nearly in but off-side saved Norths and right after K. Harrison had two chances at a penalty goal but failed. Then Colquhuon nearly let Brooker in after a weak kick but Smith saved. Then with seven minutes to go R. Dawson, very appropriately scored the try which put the issue beyond doubt. Hassett came along the wing like a racehorse and in-passed to G. Dawson who ran infield for his namesake to take a nice pass a trot over. Brooker, missed an easy kick. R.M.C. 11-6 and full time soon after.
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JOINT WINNERS OF MACDOUGALL MEDAL
The MacDougall Medal, the award for the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Most Outstanding Player in Premier First Grade, has, for the third season in succession, ended with a tie and joint winners of the premier individual prize in the local game at the annual function held at the Rex Hotel on Wednesday evening.
Helgesen meanwhile was a model of consistency for the Eagles who were beaten in the Preliminary Final by Tuggeranong Vikings after a sterling end of season run that threatened to bring them their first Grand Final appearance since 2007. The MacDougall medal is named after a legend of the game in the ACT, Stuart MacDougall. A hardworking and talented prop, Stuart represented his district, state and country in rugby union. He played for the ACT Rugby Union representative team from 1970 to 1975. Stuart captained both the ACT and Western Districts rugby teams and was widely involved in all aspects of ACT Rugby Union during his time in Canberra.
Easts playmaker Jacob Abel and Gungahlin Eagles lock Jacob Helgesen were tied on points at the end of the final count of votes and have been rewarded for a consistent campaign with the award. The pair follow in the footsteps of Tom Cusack of Canberra Royals and Bruce Kaino of Wests who shared the medal in 2017 and the trio of Ryan Jones and OJ Noa (Queanbeyan Whites) and Ben Hyne (Tuggeranong Vikings) He played with a strong set of values and thus earned a great deal of respect from players, who shares the accolade in 2016. officials and administrators alike. In a period Abel was a pivotal member of the Easts team of rugby renowned for its tough physical play that posted their best set of results for many and power at the front of the scrum, Stuart’s years, leading Head Coach Tim Cornforth’s new abilities were unmatched. Stuart continues to be game-plan that resulted in the club ending highly regarded by all those involved with rugby their long-wait for a Premier League First Grade because of his loyalty to the game and his fellow victory in the competition. His precise service players. and calm head were instrumental in some In other awards the Graham Gordon Memorial exciting Easts rugby. Trophy, presented to the ACT U20 Player of the
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Year, was won by Tom Ross of Gungahlin Eagles, the front rower who has recently signed a Wider Training Squad contract with the Plus500 Brumbies, enjoying a stellar year in which he also represented the Junior Wallabies.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS MacDougall Medalist: Jacob ABEL (Easts) & Jacob HELGESEN (Eagles)
Graham Gordon Memorial Trophy – U20 Player The John Hunter Memorial Trophy for highest of the Year: Tom ROSS (Eagles) try scorer and the Gus Vallance Memorial Trophy for highest points scorer were awarded The John Hunter Memorial Trophy – Highest Try to Brendon Taueki of Tuggeranong Vikings and Scorer: Brendon TAUEKI (Vikings) Pedro Rolando of Canberra Royals respectively, The Gus Vallance Memorial Trophy – Highest whilst Royals Head Coach Wayne Southwell Point Scorer: Pedro ROLANDO (Royals) was honoured as the recipient of the Michael Hickey Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year. The Michael Hickey Memorial Trophy – Coach of Several other awards were presented at the function attended by over 200 guests with Eagles’ Linda Rummery claiming the prestigious HS Quinn Trophy for Services to Rugby for her unwavering commitment and loyalty through a variety of roles at the club. Uni-Norths Owls David Bennett was named as the Anderson Trophy for Sportsmanship winner. It wasn’t just the Premier Division clubs who were honoured however as the awards for the Monaro Representative Player of the Year and the First and Second Division Player of the Year awards were also announced. Mark Poplin of Boorowa claimed the Bill Priest Memorial Trophy for Monaro Representative Player of the Year with the First and Second Division Player of the Year awards scooped by Craig McMahon of Canberra Royals and John Steele of the Bungendore Mudchooks.
the Year: Wayne SOUTHWELL (Royals) The HS Quinn Trophy for Services to Rugby: Linda RUMMERY (Eagles) The Anderson Trophy for Sportsmanship: David BENNETT (Uni-Norths Owls) The Bill Priest Memorial Trophy – Monaro Rep Player of the Year: Mark POPLIN (Boorowa) First Division Best & Fairest – Player of the Year: Craig MCMAHON (Royals) Second Division Best & Fairest – Player of the Year: John STEELE (Bungendore Mudchooks) The ACT & SNSWRU Volunteer of the Year: Peter CHAPMAN (Vikings) The Peter Lawler Trophy Referee of the Year: Matt HOGAN (ACTRRA)
Vikings’ Peter Chapman walked away with the ACT & SNSWRU Volunteer of the Year whilst the Peter Lawler Trophy Referee of the Year went to the consistent performances of Matt Hogan. Photo: Michael Daniel [MDP]
Photo: Jayzie Photography
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Photo: Taralga Tigers Facebook
KNOCKOUT TIME IN SOUTH COAST MONARO DIVISION We have reached the knock-out stage of the South Coast Monaro Division competition and for two of the teams involved it’s potentially their final clash of the season. That’s because the Jindabyne Bushpigs and the Bungendore Mudchooks meet each other in the Minor (Elimination) Semi-Final with the winner progressing to the Preliminary Final and the loser done for 2018. The games between the two protagonists have been highly entertaining this season with both side’s having recorded one win each in the fixture played. The Bushpigs were winners in the first match of the season, a narrow 36-34 win at John Connors Oval in which Bungendore went home with two bonus points in defeat. The return fixture, played in Round 15 in mid-July was a far more comfortable outing for the Mudchooks and they cruised to a rampant 40-15 victory with flanker Ashley Kenny scoring a hat-trick to go with tries from Andrew Goslett, Seva Camaivuna and Andrew Faddy. Both teams won their last game of the season, Jindabyne seeing off Crookwell 26-21 and Bungendore ending Yass’ hopes of finals football with a convincing 67-24 success.
Semi-Final between the Taralga Tigers and the Crookwell Dogs. The Tigers ended the year in first place on the ladder having enjoyed an exceptional campaign. The Tigers were only defeated once in the entirety of the season, but that defeat gives hope that they can be knocked off their perch in finals football. The Dogs were the only team to topple the Tigers during the regular season, a 17-10 win in the Round 9 clash at Crookwell Memorial Oval blemishing the Tigers’ perfect copybook. Taralga gained their revenge in Round 14 at their own Taralga Sports Field, a 29-21 victory, with four tries scored, more than eclipsing their earlier defeat and allowing the Tigers to push on for top spot. Finals football is often doesn’t take prior form into the equation when spitting out a winner though and any one of the four teams left will feel that, on their day, they can be the ones emerging with the silverware and the memories. Whoever does will cap another excellent and extraordinary season of South Coast Monaro rugby union.
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SEMI-FINALS Saturday 18 August 2018 Major: Taralga Tigers v Crookwell Dogs (14:30) Waiting for the winner of that clash will be the Minor: Jindabyne Bushpigs v Bungendore defeated team from the Major (Qualification) Mudchooks (14:30)
Photo: Chelsea Wilson
GRAND FINALS 2018 The 2018 Club Rugby season concludes today with five matches in addition to the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Final. Players will compete at Colts, Second Grade, First Division First Grade, First Division Second Grade and Women’s for the opportunity to end the season with silverware and a place in the history books. Over the next ten pages Stampede looks at the big matches.
32 – COLTS: Preview & Teams Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites 34 – SECOND GRADE: Preview & Teams Queanbeyan Whites v Tuggeranong Vikings 36 – WOMENS: Preview & Teams Tuggeranong Viqueens v Uni-Norths Owls 38 – FIRST DIVISION FIRST GRADE: Preview & Teams Tuggeranong Vikings v ADFA 40 – FIRST DIVISION SECOND GRADE: Preview & Teams RMC v Tuggeranong Vikings
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Photo: Chelsea Wilson
COLTS GRAND FINAL
Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites It’s as you were in the Colts Grand Final as the Tuggeranong Vikings and Queanbeyan Whites meet for the second time in three weeks to decide the best under-20 team in the national capital. The pair faced-off in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) at this very venue a fortnight ago and the Vikings ensured they would have the week off, putting their feet up and relaxing, having defeated their opponents 22-15. The Whites were left to do it the hard way and met a fired-up Gungahlin Eagles in the Preliminary Final last Saturday, the Eagles having emphatically dispatched the UniNorths Owls 39-12 in the Minor Semi-Final (Elimination Final) a day after the Vikings progressed to the Colts’ showdown. Whites have a strong track-record in the Colts competition and were Grand Final winners last year as they saw off a strong Gungahlin Eagles side with a 17-11 victory that was well-received by the large contingent of Queanbeyan supporters in attendance at Viking Park. They came from third on the ladder to win that final and will need to upset the odds again to achieve back-to-back titles. The Vikings have had the wood on their rivals during the league meetings in 2018 having
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claimed two wins and a draw in the three clashes to date, a 28-22 win in Round 4 and a 27-12 win in Round 13 sandwiching the 1212 draw at David Campese Field in Round 9. So, to claim the silverware once more the Whites will need to buck the trend and defeat a Tuggeranong Vikings team that has been the form side in the Colts section throughout the year. That draw with the Whites is the only blot on an otherwise perfect season for the team that racked up close to 600 points in the league campaign. Vikings will start favourites, but Whites will be determined to follow in the footsteps of the class of 2017. LEAGUE MEETINGS 2018 28/04/18 – R4: Whites 22 Vikings 28 02/06/18 – R9: Whites 12 Vikings 12 30/06/18 – R13: Vikings 27 Whites 12 ROUTE TO THE FINAL Semi-Finals MAJOR: Tuggeranong 22 Queanbeyan 15 MINOR: Gungahlin 39 Uni-Norths 12 Preliminary Final Queanbeyan 20 Gungahlin 17
11.35am, Viking Park 1
1. Ben Pratt 2. Khalil Waiariki 3. Angus Burns 4. Luke Corcoran 5. Darcy McLeod 6. Tim Cushan 7. Lachlan Lonergan 8. Jayme Field 9. Seamus Smith 10. Jack Evenden 11. Ryley Turner 12. Billy Carberry 13. Nick Marshall 14. Turi Hides 15. Jayden Macken
1. Ben Gordon 2. Vincent de Masson 3. Fred Kaihea 4. Becks Seeto 5. Lance Federow 6. Noa Nadruku 7. Matt Taylor © 8. Wyll Holland 9. Ben O’Halloran 10. Brad Winchester 11. Caleb Malisauskas 12. Pat Byrnes 13. Isaiah Latu 14. Elijah Chadwick 15. Jackson Stuart
COACH: Brendan Allardyce
COACH: Daniel Hawke
Referee: Brodie Ingram AR2: Sarah Corrigan AR1: Reece Henshaw No4: Dave Trill Photo: Chelsea Wilson
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1.25pm, Viking Park 1
1. Jordan Cremerius 2. Jake Gordon 3. Sam Bartholomeusz 4. Tim Woods 5. Josh Townsend 6. Daniel Naef 7. Lewis Bozzato 8. Cameron Stanley 9. Nathan Exton 10. Joshua White 11. Anthony Bozzato 12. Jake Holland 13. Lani Tiatia 14. Jeremy Taylor 15. Riley Ahern
1. Junior Sotogi 2 Tom Carney 3. Nic Cushan 4. Sam Allen 5. Cooper Taeketa 6. Damien Gubler 7. Rhys Griffiths 8. Richard Joyes 9. Blake Henman 10. Jack Howard 11. Max Ravouvou 12. Trai Henderson 13. Izzy Tittor 14. Nic Murray 15. Dean Wilson
COACH: Sean Debenham
COACH: Bryce McNicol
Referee: Matthew Hogan AR2: Steve Peak AR1: Chad Burnell No4: Chris Iodice Photo: Chelsea Wilson
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Photo: Chelsea Wilson
SECOND GRADE GRAND FINAL
Queanbeyan Whites v Tuggeranong Vikings For the second season in succession the Second Grade Grand Final will see the Queanbeyan Whites take on the Tuggeranong Vikings to find the best team in this competition after a sterling season that has seen some incredible matches, quality tries and scintillating action. That form has continued right the way through what has been an absorbing finals series to date with three matches that have captured the attention of the rugby community. The Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) was a ding-dong affair that went right to the wire as the Whites edged their perennial foes the Vikings by a single point, winning 28-27. That condemned the Vikings to a Preliminary Final match-up with Canberra Royals, the Royals thrashing Uni-Norths Owls 47-5 in the Minor Semi-Final (Elimination Final). The subsequent Preliminary Final between Royals and Vikings was one of the highlights of a day of rugby chock-a-block with tension and excitement as Vikings prevailed by the narrowest of margins, their 30-29 win taking them back to the Grand Final. As with the 2017 edition of the showdown, where Whites eased home 26-15, there as very little between the teams throughout the year but Whites appeared to have the domination of their peers having added a hat-trick of
victories to the silverware held aloft at Viking Park last August. Whites prevailed 3824 at David Campese Field in Round 4 and followed that up with a 22-19 success at the same venue in Round 9. A change of venue to Viking Park hasn’t curtailed the Whites hex over Vikings, the 18-12 win in Round 13 completing a perfect three from three in the regular season ahead of their Finals contretemps. The quality in the Second Grade competition has been a testament to the strength of the competition as a whole and spectators who come early for the main game will no doubt be just as enthralled by what these two teams have to offer. Strap yourself in for what should be an exhilarating eighty minutes. LEAGUE MEETINGS 2018 28/04/18 – R4: Whites 38 Vikings 24 02/06/18 – R9: Whites 22 Vikings 19 30/06/18 – R13: Vikings 12 Whites 18 ROUTE TO THE FINAL Semi-Finals MAJOR: Queanbeyan 28 Tuggeranong 27 MINOR: Royals 47 Uni-Norths 5 Preliminary Final Tuggeranong 30 Royals 29
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WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL Tuggeranong Viqueens v Uni-Norths Owls The Women’s Division Grand Final sees the Tuggeranong Viqueens out to reclaim the crown they lost in dramatic fashion in last season’s showpiece showdown against Royals at Viking Park. Standing in the way of them, wrestling back that trophy will be a Uni-Norths owls team who have already shown throughout 2018 that they have the personnel and the gritty determination required to compete with the Viqueens. That 2017 loss to the Royals was one of only two setbacks that the Viqueens suffered last season and they enter the Grand Final this time around with a perfect record having won all their regular season matches. They’ve continued that rich vein of form into the Finals series, much as anticipated, and had little trouble dispatching the Owls in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) a fortnight ago.
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That 38-5 win was something of an anomaly when the previous matches between the teams are taken into consideration, admittedly not always a clear indication of how finals football will pan out. Those three matches all fell in favour of the Viqueens but were a lot closer than the Major Semi-Final meet. Indeed, the last two regular season games were decided by a combined total of ten points. Both sides for the Grand Final will be sprinkled with players from the Brumbies Super W squad and this is sure to make a for
Photo: Chelsea Wilson
an exciting, fast-paced game with the Owls’ defence needing to be in top form to place a stranglehold on possession, thus denying the Viqueens the quick ball that their backline craves. They’ve succeeded in this area in the past and will need to do so again to be successful. Last week’s Preliminary Final went the way of the owls as they defeated Canberra Royals to take their place in the Grand Final, squeezing the life out of the Royals team and taking a 29-17 victory at the Final whistle. The indomitable Viqueens were watching on with interest and will have a game-plan up their sleeves ready to complete what would be the perfect year. PREVIOUS MEETINGS 2018 21/04/18 – R2: Tuggeranong 14 Uni-Norths 5 05/05/18 – R4: Tuggeranong 5 Uni-Norths 0 07/07/18 – R12: Uni-Norths 10 Tuggeranong 15 ROUTE TO THE FINAL Semi-Finals MAJOR: Tuggeranong 38 Uni-Norths 5 MINOR: Royals 64 Gungahlin 5 Preliminary Final Uni-Norths 29 Royals 17
1.15pm, Viking Park 2
1. Louise Taliai 2. Stefanie Stewart-Jones 3. Peta Cox 4. Michaela Leonard 5. Emily Sogal 6. Sharon Waihape 7. Ema Masi 8. Tayla Stanford 9. Remi Wilton 10. Carlie Hill 11. Kahlee Adams 12. Paris Robinson 13. Regan Hart 14. Stephanie Pollard 15. Ashley Hakirana Karra
1. Anna Korovata 2. Bridgette Cunningham 3. Emerena (Skeda) Aviga 4. Laura Baynes 5. Courtney Smith 6. Stacey Delbridge 7. Rosaline Aumale 8. Tania Afamasaga 9. Shelley Bradshaw 10. Jane Garraway 11. Dana-Louise Deklin 12. Jessica Howard 13. Paremo Marsh 14. Sophie Williams 15. Claudia Obst
COACH: Peter Hawke/Geoff Adam
COACH: Paul Crowe/Martin Adams
Referee: Robert Whyte AR2: Geoffrey Palmer AR1: Dave Trill No4: James Hagan Photo: Chelsea Wilson
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11.25am, Viking Park 2
1. Matt Wafer 2. Sam Thomas 3. Ben Gillespie 4. Lee Boswell 5. George Uieleia 6. Pou Ahomee 7. Dan Uieleia 8. Andrew Talaina 9. Lua Vailoaloa 10. Travis Pula 11. Steve Niovani 12. Carl Johnson 13. Andrew Dickson 14. Sam Gunning 15. Cameron Shaw
1. Jerome Dillon-Baker 2. Tom Griffiths 3. Simon Tagaloa 4. Calum Marr 5. Angus Robinson 6. James Robinson 7. Will Cronin 8. Joshua Tatana 9. Jonte Heirdsfield 10. Dom Chamberlain 11. Zane Viljoen 12. Alex Cronan 13. Jack Kearns 14. Nick Filla 15. Jack Carroll
COACH: Robbie Vejvoda
COACH: Brad Hesket / Dave Anable
Referee: James Hagan AR2: Chris Iodice AR1: Chad Burnell No4: Geoffrey Palmer Photo: Glenn Dawson
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FIRST DIVISION FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL Tuggeranong Vikings v ADFA
Photo: Chelsea Wilson
The First Division First Grade competition reaches its denouement as Tuggeranong Vikings and the Australian Defence Force Academy lock horns at Viking Park to crown the winner of what has been a quality season of exciting, inventive rugby at the third level in the national capital. Both teams that have battled their way to the Grand Final have been in top form in 2018 with the Defence Force side ending the year at the top of the First Division First Grade ladder on 69 points, having only lost once and drawn once in their fifteen matches played. It’s a record that the Vikings, who were second on the ladder on 62 points, aren’t far off with their fifteen matches yielding eleven wins, two draws and two losses in what was a highly competitive division. Indeed, the final should throw up one of the outstanding matches of the campaign, especially if their earlier encounter in 2018 is any indication of what to expect. Whilst finals football doesn’t usually follow the form and narrative of the season, the stakes are so high that teams can either freeze on the day or be inspired by what they see in front of them, the Round 5 match at Viking Park brought an extraordinary conclusion as both teams could not be separated at the end of an exhilarating eighty minutes.
The 34-34 draw saw both teams come away with three competition points in a match that was sparkling from beginning to end. The fact it was played under lights, it was a Thursday evening match at Erindale, just added to the lustre of the occasion and helped to forge a spectacle that was absorbing for the neutral and heart-stopping for those involved. The Vikings came out on top in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) a fortnight ago, winning 37-22, a result that forced ADFA into the Preliminary Final and a second shot. They made no mistake as they battered the Royals 50-22 to book their place in the Final. Now, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will prevail. PREVIOUS MEETINGS 2018 03/05/18 – R5: Tuggeranong 34 ADFA 34 ROUTE TO THE FINAL Semi-Finals MAJOR: ADFA 22 Tuggeranong 37 MINOR: Goulburn 23 Royals 38 Preliminary Final ADFA 50 Royals 22
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Photo: Chelsea Wilson
FIRST DIVISION SECOND GRADE GRAND FINAL RMC v Tuggeranong Vikings
Royal Military College and Tuggeranong Vikings will meet in the Grand Final of the First Division Second Grade competition at Viking Park with both teams harbouring realistic ambitions of ending the day as champions and with the tangible award of the silverware to take back home. These two teams were the cream of the crop in what was an extremely tense and exciting race for the minor premiership and places in the finals with only six points separating the top five teams at the end of the regular season matches. Vikings were crowned as minor premiers via a slender two-point advantage over RMC when all was said and done which set up a tremendous finals campaign. During the regular season both teams were successful in their home matches with the Vikings winning the Round 11 match by 4019 at Viking Park and RMC returning the compliment at Portsea Oval in Round 15 with a narrower, but just as important, success winning by 33-26.
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The Military College were in inspired form in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification) encounter at Viking Park a fortnight ago, showing their physicality and passion to the fore and claiming a surprisingly comfortable 29-17 victory over a Vikings side that had an off-day. Vikings were able to hit back with
aplomb a week later in the Preliminary Final with a narrow in over Queanbeyan Whites to book their place in the showdown. Both teams have been among the points this season with the Vikings running in over 500 during their regular season matches and the RMC squad wasn’t too far behind, ending the season with 480 points. Between them, the pair crossed for enough tries to earn 22 bonus points for four-tries or more in a match and the expectation is that the try scoring will not slow down, even on such a major occasion. Neither side is unbeatable, three defeats apiece in the regular season attains to that fact, but with almost identical records across the board this has the potential to be one of the most intriguing games on Grand Final day. May the best team win! PREVIOUS MEETINGS 2018 30/06/18 – R11: Tuggeranong 40 RMC 19 28/07/18 – R15: RMC 33 Tuggeranong 26 ROUTE TO THE FINAL Semi-Finals MAJOR: Tuggeranong 17 RMC 29 MINOR: Queanbeyan 62 ADFA 14 Preliminary Final Tuggeranong 28 Queanbeyan 24
9.35am, Viking Park 2
1. Brendon Robinson 2. Anthony Begnell 3. David Longmire 4. Tim Glover 5. Peter Macintyre (VC) 6. Zac Bryant 7. Jack Membrey 8. Tom Blackwood 9. Joshua Bennetts 10. Wil Thomasson (C) 11. Matthew Riles 12. Craig Rogerson 13. Jayden Green 14. Catlin Perry 15. Seb Ellis
1.Robbie McNeill 2.Colin Montgomery 3. Ryan Slater 4. James Foster 5. Jack Wright 6. Pete Conroy 7. Sven Baker 8. Grant Lukins 9. Beau Mokotupu 10. John Gibson 11. Riley Banks 12. Jack Mann 13. Alipate Mahanga 14. Owen Barker 15. Liam Bevan
COACH: Max Crozier
COACH: Grant Lukins
Referee: Steve Peak AR2: Dave Trill AR1: Sarah Corrigan No4: Geoffrey Palmer Photo: Chelsea Wilson
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ROYALS CLAIM INAUGURAL SHIELD
Photo: Royals Facebook
BOB HITCHCOCK TERRITORY SHIELD 2018 There was a new piece of silverware up for grabs during the 2018 Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup as teams competed for the Bob Hitchcock Territory Shield throughout the duration of the regular season of competition. The format saw whichever team holding the Shield at the end of the season proclaimed the winners and having their name engraved on the trophy before the recommencement of the challenge in 2019 and, after holding onto the Shield after downing Wests in Round 17, that honour befell Royals. The Shield made its way to Phillip Enclosed Oval via spells in Griffith and Queanbeyan, beginning in Round 1 when the inaugural match-up saw Easts, winless for three years, stun the ACT rugby community by seeing off Uni-Norths Owls 22-20 to raise the Shield aloft and winning the right to become the first club to defend the trophy. That they did sent another seismic shockwave through the competition as last year’s Champions Royals succumbed to a rejuvenated Easts. Tim Cornforth’s troops were unable to make it a triple triumph when they put the Shield up again in Round 6 as their run as holders came to an end with Queanbeyan Whites emerging with the spoils following a 29-
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20 victory. Whites turn with the Shield was short-lived, they coughed it up to Royals a round later and from there on in it was Royals who held it until the culmination of the campaign. After wrenching the Shield from Whites’ grasp with a 28-20 victory at David Campese Field, Royals went on to successfully defend it by seeing off the challenges of Wests (43-0 in Round 10}, Easts (33-7 in Round 13), Vikings (19-15 in Round 14) and, latterly, Whites (28-24 in Round 17). The last of those fivein-a-row home wins means Royals keep the Shield until their first home match of 2019. It’s been a great start to this new initiative and one that is sure to rise in profile as the year’s roll by. BOB HITCHCOCK TERRITORY SHIELD RESULTS [HOLDERS IN BRACKETS] R1: Easts defeated Owls 22-20 [EASTS], R4: Easts defeated Royals 25-23 [EASTS], R6: Easts lost to Whites 20-29 [WHITES], R7: Whites lost to Royals 20-28 [ROYALS], R10: Royals defeated Wests 43-0 [ROYALS], R13: Royals defeated Easts 33-7 [ROYALS], R14: Royals defeated Vikings 19-15 [ROYALS], R16: Royals defeated Whites 28-24 [ROYALS]
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