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Eagles flew into the semi-finals on the back of a victory over an Owls side that had booked their place in the final four for the first time since 2001, and the Eagles kept their season alive for a further week with a sparkling Elimination Final (Minor Semi-Final) success. It was a disappointing end for an Owls side whose upward momentum should continue in 2019.
Welcome to this special edition of Stampede as we review the 2018 Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup. In the end it was the two best teams in the competition who locked horns at Viking Park for the right to proclaim themselves the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Champions and it was Tuggeranong Vikings who emerged with the honours, seeing off a fast-finishing Canberra When Vikings were beaten by Royals in the Qualification Final (Major Semi-Final) and Royals 29-17. bounced off the Eagles in the Preliminary Final Whilst the outcome of Vikings and Royals seven days later, we had the Grand Final most making up the Grand Final pairing was largely predicted. But a predictable 2018 season? Far expected, the way both teams made it to the from it. Roll on 2019. showpiece, and those that fell along the way, indicated just how open and exciting the premier club competition in the ACT was in 2018. We had exciting rugby from the get-go 4 Grand Final Review 6 Preliminary Final Review and upsets aplenty along the way.
STAMPEDE CONTENTS
The tone was set in Round 1 as Easts broke a 1,106-day winless drought by knocking over Uni-Norths Owls 22-20 at Griffith Oval. Inspired by new Head Coach Tim Cornforth they even drew the following week with Wests and were the talk of the town when they downed defending Champions Royals in Round 4 in an exhilarating 25-23 success. It couldn’t last, and they ended the campaign sixth, but their performances bode well for forthcoming seasons. Wests were the team immediately below them on the ladder, the 2017 Grand Finalists suffering a massive hangover with the turnover in playing personnel not helping their cause one iota. A summer of regrouping is required for the Jamison Oval side. Further up the ladder the Finals positions were a jostle from the get-go with five sides in serious contention for the end of season showpiece. In the end the Queanbeyan Whites missed out, a loss to Royals in Round 16 coupled with a resurgent Gungahlin Eagles defeating the Owls a week later, did the men from over the border.
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Semi-Final Review Club Focus: Eastern Suburbs Club Focus: Gungahlin Eagles Club Focus: Queanbeyan Whites Club Focus: Canberra Royals Grand Final Photo Special Club Focus: Tuggeranong Vikings Club Focus: Uni-Norths Owls
Club Focus: Western Districts Lions
McDougall Medal Awards Team of the Year Lighting up the NRC Bob Hitchcock Shield Season Results
STAMPEDE 2018 Editor: Russ Gibbs Designer: Chelsea Wilson Contributors: Rian Murphy Photography: Glenn Dawson, Chelsea Wilson, Michael Daniel [MDP]
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VIKINGS REACH VALHALLA AFTER SEEING OFF ROYALS
Tuggeranong Vikings won the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup for a fourteenth time with a resounding 29-17 win over Royals at Viking Park in Erindale in front of a healthy crowd. A second half comeback from Royals, who had beaten their rivals in the Major Semi-Final (Qualification Final) wasn’t enough to halt the powerful Vikings as they claimed the silverware. Royals defeat of the Vikings two weeks prior earned them a week off whilst Vikings were forced into the Preliminary Final to play the Gungahlin Eagles. The week off may have been detrimental for Royals as they looked slow to start, whilst conversely, the Vikings were quick to show their firepower that made them minor premiers. Royals opened the scoring in the match through the boot of Pedro Rolando, the scrumhalf landing a 40-metre penalty goal, but it wouldn’t be until the second half until Royals again troubled the scoreboard. By then they were facing down the barrel as they trailed 22-3.
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Vikings started their scoring spree through slick
backline play, winger Andrew Robinson the man to take advantage and score. Ryan Lonergan converted the try to put the Vikings in front and the home fans were soon celebrating once more, as exciting interplay by lock Darcy Swain and centre Jordan Jackson-Hope put flanker Luke Gersekowski over the line. There was more bad news for Royals shortly thereafter as tight head prop Sione Mau was yellow carded for a no-arms tackle. The Vikings utilised the man advantage to the full finding Brendan Taueki in space and the flying fullback made no mistake as he roared over for his twentieth try of the campaign. More was to come for the rampant Vikings on the stroke of half-time as scrumhalf Lonergan added his name to the ever-growing list of try scorers, selling a great dummy to lurch over and score. The kick was narrowly missed but the Vikings held the initiative with a 22-3 half-time advantage that their excellent play, and ruthless efficiency, fully deserved. The Vikings were afforded less room in the second stanza as Royals fought back but were unable to force their way into the match until it was far too
late. Indeed, Vikings extended their lead before Royals could do even that, Robinson collecting a wayward Royals pass and showing exceptional speed to elude the covering defence to score. Lonergan added the extras. To their credit, Royals weren’t done, and they began to claw their way back when some possession close to the Vikings line, the result of a succession of phases that advanced Royals up the field, resulted in flanker Luke Kimber breaking through to touch down. Rolando kicked the conversion and was soon lining up another as the Royals fightback gathered pace. Lausii Taliauli finally found the room to manoeuvre that he had been craving all afternoon and off he went from distance showing some outrageous footwork in the process, to skip around the Vikings defence and claim a second Royals try. With Rolando potting the conversion the Vikings twenty-six points lead was suddenly looking precarious at twelve.
in the second half. They’re very happy and very proud.” Royals Head Coach Wayne Southwell was clearly disappointed with his team’s defeat saying that a lapse in skill led to the slow start, but he was proud of the effort his team gave, especially in their second half revival. “A lot went wrong in that first half,” Southwell admitted. “We got off to a good start, but our passing probably let us down most in the first half. Certainly, though I am very proud of the second half performance, I thought we gave it a really good shot.” Grand Final Saturday 18 August 2018 Vikings (22) 29 (T: Robinson (2), Gersekowski, Taueki, Lonergan, C: Lonergan (3)) Royals (3) 17 (T: Kimber, Taliauli, C: Rolando, P: Rolando)
It was too little too late though and Vikings had done more than enough to claim the victory leaving Vikings Head Coach Nick Scrivener to praise the teams’ efforts, particularly the effort showed on defence. “I thought our defense was outstanding,” Scrivener commented. “We were under the pump for a while there and I think the defence set the tone for our intensity. They’re very happy and relieved, Royals were coming back very strongly
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VIKINGS ADVANCE TO GRAND FINAL 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 into a nightmare with 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 Minor-Premiers 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
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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 OakmanHunt, 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)
SEMI-FINAL REVIEW MAJOR SEMI-FINAL (QUALIFICATION FINAL)
MINOR SEMI-FINAL (ELIMINATION FINAL)
Tuggeranong Vikings 20 Canberra Royals 26
Uni-Norths Owls 17 Gungahlin Eagles 27
Canberra Royals advanced to the GrandFinal of the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup last week thanks to a hard-fought 26-20 win over the Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park. The Vikings may have been top of the table going into the Semi-Final stage but it’s Royals who reign as Premiers. Despite the Vikings having the line-share of possession and more clean-cut chances, it was Royals who held their nerve on the day, scoring four beautiful tries, two in each half with Will Morrison, Andy Muirhead, Sione Mau and Ben Johnston finding the line. Royals lead 14-3 at the break, having defended for most of the half but Vikings’ inability to turn pressure into points was a theme of the day, most glaringly in the opening forty minutes. Royals were almost the opposite, showing ruthless efficiency when on the attack. Vikings went very close to snatching victory in the late stages after Len Ikitau forced his way over, but it was Royals day and the Vikings were left to ponder missed opportunities.
For sixty minutes, the Gungahlin Eagles were perfect against the Uni-Norths Owls. Playing against the wind in the first-half, the Eagles managed to open a 19-0 gap over the Owls thanks to tries from Jamie Kotz, Ray Dobson and late replacement Luke Duffey. The Owls shot into life with twenty to play and looked like the team that had finished third in the regular season. Ben Love, a brilliant young number-eight, got the first of the Owls tries, followed by a cheeky sniping effort from Sam Irwin. A brilliant lineout move saw Brumbies veteran Ben Alexander score his first Owls try of the year with two minutes to play and the Owls had a chance at an incredible come from behind victory. The Eagles regrouped however, and in the dwindling embers of the Minor Semi-Final, cheered on by a vociferous crew in the temporary nest on Viking Park hill, the Eagles controlled possession, won a penalty and it was on Josh Gillard to boot the ball through the sticks, signalling the end of the game. It wasn’t to be for the Owls, their endeavour and guile won the hearts of many in 2018. For the Eagles, their finals flight continued.
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EASTERN SUBURBS SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1938 HEAD COACH: TIM CORNFORTH CAPTAIN: JACOB ABEL HOME GROUND: GRIFFITH OVAL
SEASON RANK: 6th TOP POINT SCORERS
100 – George MORSEU 35 – Jacob ABEL, Ratu Jone Pio MACANAWAI 30 – Peni NIFO 24 – Jacob ANGELATOS 22 – Jacob BOLAND 15 – Mees ERASMUS, Otto WRAKONEI 10 – Samuel SAMUELU, Junior MONU, Langi LOLOTONGA 5 – Robbie ABEL, Liam BILSTON, Tom PILKINTON, William CALLEN, Sione TUITAUAKE-FUSIMALOHI, James VERITY-AMM, Simon WEBBER
TOP TRY SCORERS
13 – George MORSEU 7 – Jacob ABEL, Ratu Jone Pio MACANAWAI 6 – Peni NIFO 3 – Mees ERASMUS, Otto WRAKONEI 2 – Josh BOLAND, Samuel SAMUELU, Junior MONU, Langi LOLOTONGA 1 – Robbie ABEL, Liam BILSTON, Tom PILKINTON, Jacob ANGELATOS, William CALLEN, Sione TUITAUAKEFUSIMALOHI, James VERITY-AMM, Simon WEBBER
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There’s two ways to review Easts 2018 season. One way is to look at the broader picture, another to analyse it as a stand-alone set of games. For this club, for this year anyway, you have to do both. Easts entered this season having not won a game in three years. They became the banker bonuspoint for other teams, losing badly almost every week. Then came Tim Cornforth and the winds of change blew hard in the East. With a new coach, and a brigade of former Royals Blue-Blaggers in tow, Easts came into 2018 with confidence. On the opening day of the season, a mere 1,106 days after their last win, Easts finally changed the narrative, beating Uni-Norths in a nail-biter at Griffith Oval. What followed was a brief but wonderful run by Easts where they continued to shock the local scene, ending Royals unbeaten run away from home. Again, thinking big picture, Easts hot-start means 2018 was their most successful in recent memory. However, because they began so well it made their languishing finish that much harder to take. Easts lost just one game through nine rounds, then didn’t win another game for the rest of the season. Midway through the year, talk was of playoffs not of how great it was to not be losing every week. They remained competitive, impressing with their unique brand of runningrugby. One thing was certain when you watched Easts-tries, problem being it could be them scoring or shipping them. In the end, the steam powering the hype-train was ultimately lost, and Easts were forced to be content with losing the WoodenSpooners moniker for once. Except, as I mentioned before, there’s no way they were happy with that finish. Expect more from Easts in 2019. With a new academy structure in place and the ambition to go higher than last year, the days of being the John I Dent Cup’s ‘banker bonus-point’ are over for the Eastern suburbs.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT The Round 4 win over reigning Champions Royals was immense, but for sheer joy nothing can beat the drought-breaking Round 1 success over the Uni-Norths Owls at Griffith Oval. Easts had waited 1,106 days for a taste of victory and when it came it was all the sweeter. A nerveless conversion from Jacob Angelatos secured the win after George Morseu had crossed for the team’s fourth try of the afternoon to tie the scores with minutes remaining. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation with players and spectators flooding the pitch to celebrate the win with the team. If that wasn’t enough, which it probably was in all honesty, the claiming of the inaugural Bob Hitchcock Territory Shield was the cherry on the icing on a particularly tasty cake.
SEASON RESULTS R1: Owls (h) W 22-20 R2: Whites (h) L 15-24 R3: Bye R4: Royals (h) W 25-23 R5: Vikings (a) L 24-71 R6: Whites (h) L 20-29 R7: Eagles (a) W 24-18 R8: Bye R9: Wests (a) W 42-13 R10: Owls (h) L 26-41 R11: Bye R12: Wests (h) L 36-51 R13: Royals (a) L 7-33 R14: Owls (a) L 17-41 R15: Whites (a) D 46-46 R16: Eagles (h) L 19-48 R17: Vikings (h) L 33-57
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
A few Easts players deserve this title, particularly George Morseu for his 13 tries, but it’s hard to argue against Jacob Abel for Eastern Suburbs Best and Fairest. The McDougall Medal Award panel agreed, Abel being named Co-Winner for his outstanding season. Captaining the side into a new era, the young playmaker did a bit of everything for his side, no job being neither too much to handle nor beneath him. Whether it was distributing from scrumhalf or pulling the strings at ten, Abel impressed with his cool demeanour, silky skillset and power for his size. Easts are moving forward finally, and Abel is at the helm.
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GUNGAHLIN EAGLES SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1967 HEAD COACH: DAN ATKINS CAPTAIN: RAY DOBSON/MATT HAWKE HOME GROUND: NICHOLLS ENCLOSED
SEASON RANK: 4th (lost in Preliminary Final)
TOP POINT SCORERS
55 – Rutikha ILOLAHIA 51 – Isaac WALKER 37 – Wharenui HAWERA 33 – Josh GILLARD 30 – Jamie KOTZ 25 – Luke DUFFEY, Mack HANSEN 20 – JP FENUKITAU, Eli SINOTI 15 – James DARGAVILLE, Ray DOBSON 10 – Simon ANAU, Isaak FINES-LELEIWASA 5 – Hendrix BEAZLEY, Marc BERTHELOT, Mitch CONNOLLY, Oscar CUNNINGHAM, BJ EDWARDS, Jake HELGESEN, Ben JONES, Eremasi KELEI, Ali NGAHE, Alex SMALL, Henry SPEIGHT
TOP TRY SCORERS
11 – Rutikha ILOLAHIA 5 – Jamie KOTZ 5 – Mack HANSEN 4 – Luke DUFFEY, JP FENUKITAU, Eli SINOTI 3 – James DARGAVILLE, Ray DOBSON 2 – Simon ANAU, Isaak FINES-LELEIWASA 1 – Hendrix BEAZLEY, Marc BERTHELOT, Mitch CONNOLLY, Oscar CUNNINGHAM, BJ EDWARDS, Josh GILLARD, Jake HELGESEN, Ben JONES, Eremasi KELEI, Ali NGAHE, Alex SMALL, Henry SPEIGHT
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To think of the Eagles season in 2018 you must look at it in stages. With a talented group assembled in Nicholls, they entered the new season with a quiet confidence. Off-season recruiting had brought the Eagles a new spark in the form of Issak Fines, but despite the electrifying half-backs heroics, the Eagles won just a solitary game in the opening 10 rounds of the season. To make matters worse, the Eagles then lost Fines to the Western Force half way through the year. Hope seemed slightly lost for Gungahlin at that point, and even with new flyhalf Josh Gillard providing some of what they lacked, the results just weren’t coming. The last of those losses against the Owls was the Eagles most testing. Losing two players to red cards and being down to 13 men at one stage, the Eagles season lay in ruins before them. Crucially however, they never gave up in that game and somehow almost won it. Two weeks later, after coming together in the bye, the Eagles got their season back on track, beating the then Champions Royals. They lost the next week to the eventual Premiers Vikings, but after that, they won four on the bounce to finish the season, sneaking in to the top four on points difference. Controversy struck the Eagles Nest before finals, as a dispute of eligibility was brought before Brumbies officials. The Eagles were let off with a warning for that one, and made their mark in the playoffs, beating the Owls in the Minor Semi-final before bowing out at the hands of the Champions elect in the Preliminary Final. A tough end to a fairy-tale run for the Eagles, but the run they put together to make the finals will no doubt spur them on for another crack at an elusive Premiership in 2019.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT The season highlight for the Eagles was really a series of them. The run they put together to make the finals was amazing, and their last-minute success against Wests was breathtaking but if there’s a standalone moment or game, it’s their win against the Champions. Royals entered the Eagles' Nest on a day where frankly only rugby could endure. With wind and rain doing damage to the spirit of players and supporters alike, the Eagles turned their season around on that day. It was a heroic defensive performance, the dogged Eagles beating the BlueBaggers on their Heritage Day, upsetting the odds and bringing a renewed sense of hope to the Nest.
SEASON RESULTS R1: Whites (a) L 38-39 R2: Vikings (h) L 22-66 R3: Royals (a) L 5-38 R4: Wests (h) W 36-31 R5: Owls (a) L 10-22 R6: Bye R7: Easts (h) L 18-24 R8: Whites (h) L 28-31 R9: Owls (a) L 24-25 R10: Bye R11: Royals (h) W 20-12 R12: Vikings (a) L 21-31 R13: Wests (a) W 29-5 R14: Whites (h) W 27-24 R15: Bye R16: Easts (a) W 48-19 R17: Owls (h) W 47-5 ESF: Owls (n) W 27-17 PF: Vikings (n) L 7-58
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jake Helgesen was a pillar of consistency for Gungahlin in 2018. Someone that no matter the situation, winning or losing, gave absolutely everything to the Eagles cause. Helgesen is a unique player. In defence, Helgesen tackles like a man possessed, recklessly abandoning thoughts of personal safety, the Eagles lock often puts his head where others wouldn’t put their feet. Then, with ball in hand, he plays like an extra back, more subtlety than brute force. Every week, he was arguably the Eagles best player and at end of 2018, Helgesen was announced as the CoWinner of the McDougal Medal. Not the biggest or fastest, Helgesen is perhaps the toughest and bravest player in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup.
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QUEANBEYAN WHITES SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1954 HEAD COACH: PAUL DILLON CAPTAIN: RYAN JONES HOME GROUND: DAVID CAMPESE OVAL
SEASON RANK: 5th TOP POINT SCORERS
53 – Will GODDARD 50 – Jamie MARMONT 30 – Sokai TAI 29 – Mitch DOUCH 25 – OJ NOA 20 – Ryan JONES 15 – Tom RUEDIGER 12 – Ben GODRON 10 – Keith MORGAN, Neori NADRUKU, Roby WILSON 5 – Riley AHERN, Lewis BOZZATO, Billy CHALKER, Carl ELLIOTT, Nathan EXTON, Tom HOLLAND, Fred KAIHEA, Petau LEFAU, Dan PENCA, Justin SIKIMETI, Cameron STANLEY, Zac TARRANT, Josh WHITE
TOP TRY SCORERS
10 – Jamie MARMONT 6 – Sokai TAI 5 – OJ NOA 4 – Ryan JONES 3 – Tom RUEDIGER 2 – Keith MORGAN, Neori NADRUKU, Roby WILSON 1 – Riley AHERN, Lewis BOZZATO, Billy CHALKER, Mitch DOUCH, Carl ELLIOTT, Nathan EXTON, Tom HOLLAND, Will GODDARD, Ben GORDON, Fred KAIHEA, Petau LEFAU, Dan PENCA, Justin SIKIMETI, Cameron STANLEY, Zac TARRANT, Josh WHITE
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2018 in many respects, represented a step in the wrong direction for the Queanbeyan Whites, yet there is still so much to be hopeful about for 2019. Queanbeyan started off reasonably well, winning their first three on the trot against the Gungahlin Eagles, Uni-Norths Owls and Wests. Beating teams at their level was rarely a problem for Queanbeyan at the start and mid-point of 2018. It was against the top teams when the Whites had trouble. Always in the games but never getting over the line. Queanbeyan took just four table points from their four games against the top-two sides, Vikings and Royals. Beating the big-hitters isn’t essential to succeeding in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup, but it helps. You only have to look at the teams that finished ahead of them, Uni-Norths and Gungahlin. The Owls claimed 13 table points from the leading pair throughout the season and Gungahlin’s win against Royals was a catalyst for their run. The points help, but the momentum of winning a tight game against the favourite is unquantifiable and Queanbeyan just never put a string of games together because of it. Ultimately, back to back losses against Wests and Gungahlin sealed the Whites fate and they were left looking in from the outside when playoffs kicked off. On the positive side, the squad is good and headCoach Paul Dillon appears to be the man for the job. The Whites also have a potential star in their ranks, Will Goddard. The precocious talent kicked the ACT schoolboys to a National Championship in 2017, entering the senior game with incredible ease, ending 2018 as the Whites top-scorer. Expect a renewed charge from the Whites in 2019, with a stud teenage playmaker steering the ship. A year of what might have been’s becomes fuel for the fire next season. Queanbeyan with a point to prove sounds like a terrifying prospect for the rest of the John I Dent Cup.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT For a club as successful as Queanbeyan, it seems odd to make a draw their season highlight but in 2018, the Whites 46-46 tie with Easts was incredible. The Whites won six games in 2018 and missed out on playoffs on points-difference, but this was no ordinary draw. Down 43-17 with fifteen minutes to play, Queanbeyan produced perhaps the best rugby any team played in 2018 and came steaming back into the game. Easts even had a chance to add a three-pointer in that time but could do nothing to stop the Whites onslaught as they scored four times in quarter of an hour to somehow salvage the game and save their playoff spot for the time being, leveling the match right on the siren to end a John I Dent Cup classic.
SEASON RESULTS R1: Eagles (h) W 39-38 R2: Owls (a) W 24-15 R3: Wests (a) W 26-20 R4: Vikings (h) L 10-29 R5: Bye R6: Easts (a) W 29-20 R7: Royals (h) L 20-28 R8: Eagles (a) W 31-28 R9: Vikings (h) L 15-22 R10: Bye R11: Wests (h) L 10-30 R12: Owls (h) W 24-7 R13: Vikings (a) L 14-37 R14: Eagles (a) L 24-27 R15: Easts (h) D 46-46 R16: Royals (a) L 24-28 R17: Bye
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
‘Chainsaw’ Jamie Marmont. It seems like they're still plenty of revs left in the Queanbeyan Whites winger. Marmont has been a mainstay at David Campese Field for over ten years and has three premierships winning medals in his locker. The actual tree-cutters have left Queanbeyan games, but in 2018, Chainsaw Marmont was at his uncompromising best. The veteran did everything he could this year, scoring a team-high 10 tries and earning a spot in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup team of the year. No Premiership, but another vintage year from Queanbeyan’s folk hero.
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CANBERRA ROYALS SEASON REVIEW THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1949 HEAD COACH: WAYNE SOUTHWELL CAPTAIN: BEN JOHNSTON HOME GROUND: PHILLIP OVAL
SEASON RANK: 2nd (lost in Grand Final)
TOP POINT SCORERS
181 – Pedro ROLANDO 40 – Sione LOLOHEA, Seth GOING 25 – Faalelei SIONE 20 – Mike FAKAVA 15 – Ben JOHNSTON, Luke KIMBER, Andy MUIRHEAD, Lausii TALIAULI 10 – Liam SLATER, Lincoln SMITH 5 – Matt COLE, Angus LE LIEVRE, Sione MAU, Ritchie MARIOTA, Will MORRISON, Dean PARAGALLI, Josh PENDERS, Sam ULUVALU
TOP TRY SCORERS
8 – Seth GOING, Sione LOLOHEA 5 – Faalelei SIONE 4 – Mike FAKAVA, Pedro ROLANDO 3 – Ben JOHNSTON, Luke KIMBER, Andy MUIRHEAD, Lausii TALIAULI 2 –Liam SLATER, Lincoln SMITH 1 – Matt COLE, Angus LE LIEVRE, Sione MAU, Ritchie MARIOTA, Will MORRISON, Dean PARAGALLI, Josh PENDERS, Sam ULUVALU
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It’s hard to label a team that nearly won back-toback titles season a disappointment but that’s just what it was. Prisoners of an undefeated season in the previous year, anything less than a repeat was always going to be slightly tough to take for the Blue-Baggers. Victims of their own success, it’s a problem many Champions must face, but for Royals it hit them in a unique way. Usually it’s complacency, as famous NBA Coach Pat Riley once described it, “the “disease of me.” Royals were affected because some of their core group were just too good. Tom Cusack was co-winner of the McDougall Medal in 2017 and the driving force of their dominance. He never donned his beloved Royals jersey in 2018 because he was required for the Brumbies. Andy Muirhead, Lausii Taliauli and Faalelei Sione were all missing for Super Rugby duties at various points of the season as well. Royals coach Wayne Southwell warned before the season that things might be a bit harder for his side, and they were. Royals version of struggling is most teams idea of success. Defending their crown with pride, Royals still showed their greatness, and ramped things up when finals loomed. When they dispatched Vikings in the Major Semi-Final, it looked like they had peaked just at the opportune moment. Three minutes in to the rematch things looked to be going to plan. Pedro Rolando, as he always does, put the Royals ahead with his surgical right-boot. Then, and only Royals know why, the Royals juggernaut came crashing to a halt. Vikings were excellent, but Royals were poor, and Tuggeranong shot out to a big lead and Royals just couldn’t recover. They tried, and had they played the way they did in the final quarter in the rest of the game, things almost certainly would have been different. The credit must go to the Vikings, as does the title, but Royals may feel they left one behind in 2018. They’ll have plenty of motivation in 2019, the rest of the competition best get prepared for the Blue-Baggers.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT Royals couldn’t go back-to-back in 2018, losing out in the Grand-Final to the Vikings, but the performance they put in to reach the deciding game was mesmeric. Having struggled to recreate their dominance from the previous season, in the Major Semi-Final against their future Grand Final opponants, they were at their best. Winning with clinical brutality, Royals ran in a slew of magical tries, not least Ben Johnston’s viral effort where Sam Carter threw him the second-row offload of the century, breaking doen the right flank to flick an audacious pass to the rampaging Johnston. The Grand-Final loss was heartbreaking, but Royals can look to this game for inspiration in 2019.
SEASON RESULTS 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 GF: Vikings (n)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Luke Kimber was simply sensational in 2018. The Royals backrower, perhaps keen to clear the memory of missing out on the 2017 Grand Final, came out firing this season, his ball carrying and ridiculous work-rate distinguishing him from others in what was a stacked Royals squad. Kimber was crucial in Royals run to the Grand Final, particularly when it counted in the playoffs. He ruled the roost in the Major Semi-Final, alongside backrow partner Will Morrison and when Royals were struggling for inspiration in the GF, it was Kimber who put his hand up, scoring the try that got Royals back in the game. Kimber will swap blue for red and black this offseason, as he was one of a few club players to be selected for the Canberra Vikings NRC squad.
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TUGGERANONG VIKINGS THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1973 HEAD COACH: NICK SCRIVENER CAPTAIN: ISAAC THOMPSON/CALLUM SMITH HOME GROUND: VIKING PARK
SEASON RANK: 1st (Won Grand Final)
TOP POINT SCORERS
193 – Brendan TAUEKI 65 – JP MYNHARDT 47 – Isaac THOMPSON 33 – Ryan LONERGAN 32 – Noah LOLESIO 30 – Len IKITAU, Sione TAULA 22 – Jordan JACKSON-HOPE 15 – Max RAVOUVOU, Ernest SUAVAI
TOP TRY SCORERS
19 – Brendan TAUEKI 13 – JP MYNHARDT 6 – Len IKITAU, Noah LOLESIO, Sione TAULA 4 – Jordan JACKSON-HOPE 3 – Ryan LONERGAN, Max RAVOUVOU, Ernest SUAVAI, Isaac THOMSPON 2 – Angus ALLEN, Jayme FIELD, Rhys GRIFFITHS, Michael HENRY, Richard JOYES, Michael OAKMAN-HUNT, Izzy TITTOR, Joey VEJVODA 1 – Ryne BOWDEN, Angus BURNS, Blake HENMAN, Joe LANGTRY, Andrew ROBINSON, Callum SMITH, Dan SOLOEA, Angus WAGNER
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SEASON REVIEW Vikings are back on top of the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup. It’s a familiar spot for the Erindale outfit, having previously won six of the last eight titles before 2018. However, last season by no means started with the Vikings pencilled in for another crown. That prediction was more suitable for Royals, who went undefeated the previous season. To make matters more complicated, HeadCoach Tim Sampson took the big job at the newly reformed Western Force. The Vikings had a quality replacement waiting though. Nick Scrivener took the reigns at Viking Park, having coached at the highest level for many years. Would Scrivener be the catalyst the Vikings needed to regain their spot at the top? In the first game of the season, Royals beat the Vikings, but the home-side announced their candidacy for leadership that day. Against a strong if not outgunned Gungahlin side a week later, the Vikings put fear into the rest of the competition. In forty minutes of football, they scored over fifty points, devasting the Eagles and setting themselves up for the season. Other than Royals, just one team had any joy against the Vikings, the Owls. Vikings just managed a draw thanks to a buzzer-beating try to Sione Taula in Round 3 but couldn’t repeat that effort later in the season, losing at home on their Charity Day. Still, it was Vikings matchup with Royals which defined not only their respective seasons, but the competition. Royals won the regular season battle two games to one and, in the Major Semi-Final, beat the Vikings into submission. It was perhaps the wake-up call the Vikings needed and in the Preliminary Final against the Eagles, the Vikings were marvellous. In the Grand Final, the major talking point was about which Vikings team would turn up, the one which lost to Royals or the team that hammered the Eagles. We all got our answer. The Vikings, clinical in victory, took home the Cup.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT Choosing the Premiers season highlight is simple. Winning a Grand Final at your home ground against the defending Champions who beat you the previous week is the stuff dreams are made of. Not only did the Vikings beat Royals to win their seventh premiership in 10 years, they did it in a manner which suggests their dominance is set to continue for many years to come. Defensive aggression turned into points the other end. The Vikings made Royals look like a shell of themselves and when they turned on the power on offence, they were magnificent. Royals recovered to make the final result respectable, but it was a demolition job by the Vikings and they were well worth their crown by the final whistle.
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 GF: Royals (n)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR So many in red and black deserve this distinction, but Brendan Taeuki’s prolific scoring in 2018 can’t be ignored. In his first season back in the fifteen-aside code, Taeuki scored a whopping 19 tries, good enough for first in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup. Taeuki was also clinical from the boot and was pipped by just one point by Royals' Pedro Rolando for the competitions top-scorer award. Still, the last laugh went to the Vikings fullback, crossing in the Grand Final on the Vikings way to yet another premiership. If 2018 proved anything, it’s that red and black suits the powerhouse fullback.
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UNI-NORTHS OWLS THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1938 HEAD COACH: TONY DOHERTY CAPTAIN: DAVID BENNETT HOME GROUND: ANU NORTH OVAL
SEASON RANK: 3rd (lost in Minor Semi-Final, Elimination Final)
TOP POINT SCORERS
77 – Sam IRWIN 52 – Jordan THOMPSON 35 – Callum RICHARDSON 30 – Panashe KAMHARA 25 – Daniel PARETE 20 – David BENNETT, Ben LOVE 15 – Phil FERREIRA 13 – Tom GILMORE 10 – Willoughby AXELSON, Trent STOREN 7 – Penalty TRY 5 – Ben ALEXANDER, Max BODE, Isileli FA, Tamera HIKARU, Nick JONES, James LYNCH, Stee TIKOT, David VERRYNE
TOP TRY SCORERS
7 – Callum RICHARDSON 6 – Panashe KAMHARA 5 – Daniel PARETE 4 – David BENNETT, Ben LOVE 3 – Phil FERREIRA 2 – Willoughby AXELSON, Tom GILMORE, Sam IRWIN, Trent STOREN 1 – Ben ALEXANDER, Max BODE, Isileli FA, Tamera HIKARU, Nick JONES, James LYNCH, Stee TIKOT, David VERRYNE, Penalty TRY
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SEASON REVIEW The Uni-Norths Owls 2018 season was one of incredible highs and desperate lows. Earning the moniker of ‘Giant Killers’, Uni-Norths overcame early struggles to claim third spot on the ladder, earning a place in the finals for the first time since ’01 with some comfort. However, their fairy-tale run did not have a story-book ending, and their season finished with a heartbreaking loss to the Gungahlin Eagles in the Minor Semi-Final. The Owls had a different look to them from the very start, mostly down to a new coaching team. Brumbies Women’s Head Coach Tony Doherty took over the running at ANU North Oval in the offseason, and it was clear that the Owls style had changed. It took a little time for the results to match the endeavour, but they stuck with it and eventually the wins came. Ironically, it was against the Eagles when Uni-Norths got going, winning 22-10. The Owls charge stalled for two games, but they recovered in Round 9, again dispatching Gungahlin, 25-24. The next set of fixtures was where the Owls really started making noise. Winning six from seven, they rocketed up the standings, even threatening to break into the top two. A highlight of that period came in Round 15 when the Owls beat Royals, announcing themselves as a real premiership contender. Then came their old foe, Gungahlin. On the final day of the season, with the Eagles needing a bonus-point win to sneak into the playoffs, the Owls crumbled, losing 47-5. In terms of table position, it was meaningless for the Owls, but the psychological gauntlet had been laid down by Gungahlin, and a week later in the Minor-Semi, the Eagles just seemed to have the Owls number. The Owls put up an incredible fight in that game, almost staging the most unlikely of comebacks, but they were ultimately left to ponder missed opportunities. Still, a fantastic season for the Owls, they will be back in 2019 with an improving squad and a score to settle.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT The Owls win away to the wouldbe Champions Vikings sticks out as their highlight of 2018. Having come agonisingly close to beating the Vikings in Round three, the Owls were perhaps slightly more confident than usual entering Viking Park in Round 11. It was a game of two halves to borrow a stock rugby phrase and in this instance a game of two fields due to an injury, but credit to the Owls boys, they came out on top. Incredibly, the Owls found themselves up 31-7 at the break. The Vikings came storming back in the second-period and had a chance to again deny the Owls a famous win in the dying moments of the game. The visitors held firm, somehow holding on for a season-defining 31-28 triumph.
SEASON RESULTS R1: Easts (a) L 20-22 R2: Whites (h) L 15-24 R3: Vikings (h) D 17-17 R4: Bye R5: Eagles (h) W 22-10 R6: Royals (a) L 24-26 R7: Wests (h) L 13-31 R8: Bye R9: Eagles (h) W 25-24 R10: Easts (a) W 41-26 R11: Vikings (a) W 31-28 R12: Whites (a) L 17-24 R13: Bye R14: Easts (h) W 41-17 R15: Royals (h) W 26-25 R16: Wests (a) W 40-12 R17: Eagles (a) L 5-47 ESF: Eagles (n) L 17-27
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Dave Bennett leads by example. In 2018, the Owls captain was sensational, winning the clubs Best and Fairest, as well as being honoured with the Anderson Trophy for Sportsmanship at the McDougall Medal Awards. A good sport, but one who doesn’t hold back either. The Owls openside terrorises opposition at the breakdown. Invariably, if you’re watching the Owls play and someone gets a turnover or there’s a penalty awarded their way, Bennett is involved. A late season injury cruelly denied him the chance to play in the Finals, but Bennett was at the centre of why the Owls were so improved in 2018, leading to a topthree finish and a first playoff berth in many moons.
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WESTERN DISTRICT LIONS THE CLUB FOUNDED: 1962 HEAD COACH: CRAIG ROBBERDS CAPTAIN: MITCH TYE HOME GROUND: JAMISON OVAL
SEASON RANK: 7th TOP POINT SCORERS
46 – Seb LORRAWAY 45 – Tristan STANLEY 35 – Brodie LEBER 20 – Byron HOLLINGWORTH-DESSENT, Ryan KIELY 19 – Mitch TYE 16 – Drew SOUTHWELL 15 – TP LUTERU 10 – Richie ARNOLD, Ben COUTTS, Mils FINAU, Matt JONES, Charlie LUTERU 5 – Tauati CHAN-TUNG, Ben JAGER, Alistar JOHNSTONE, Wes MACK, Wes TAMEIFUNA 4 – Danny MATTHEWS 2 – Chris ASHMORE
TOP TRY SCORERS
7 – Brodie LEBER, Seb LORRAWAY 4 – Byron HOLLINGWORTH-DESSENT, Ryan KIELY 3 – TP LUTERU, Mitch TYE 2 – Richie ARNOLD, Ben COUTTS, Mils FINAU, Matt JONES, Charlie LUTERU 1 – Tauati CHAN-TUNG, Ben JAGER, Alistar JOHNSTONE, Wes MACK, Wes TAMEIFUNA
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SEASON REVIEW After reaching the giddy heights of the 2017 Grand Final with a late season surge last year, the 2018 campaign was nothing short of a disaster for Wests. Losing a raft of players in pre-season from that side didn’t help their cause and there were glimpses throughout a frustrating campaign of just what could be achieved with a coherent and settled group of players. Big wins in mid-season over Queanbeyan Whites and Easts hinted at a possible recovery but that was as good as it got for the team that was to end the season bottom of the ladder. They were in touch and competitive in all games, but they need to be more consistent if they are to recover their mojo in 2019. Having said that, the future appears to be reasonably bright, mostly because of the youth in the squad. The performances of some of the young members of the team should give hope to Wests supporters, particularly Tauati Chan-Tung and Byron Holingworth-Dessent. The former, ChanTung, started the season in Colts having just left High-School, but slowly earned a place in First Grade. Chan-Tung impressed many with his setpiece acumen and work rate with his teammate on the wing Hollingworth-Dessent really impressing with his ridiculous pace. Hollingworth-Dessent struggled at times during the year, understandable for a guy also straight out of school and in a new city to boot. As the season went on, the Goulburn product started to show why the Brumbies had drafted him into their Academy structure. You can’t coach the speed Hollingworth-Dessent has, it was just about applying that to the rugby field. When he did, it was electrifying. Still, it all amounted to a wooden-spoon finish for the Westies, the memory of 2017 serving as a cruel canvas to a poor season. Perhaps it’s simply a comment on the strength of the competition that Wests finished last. The talent is there, they have everything to prove, watch out for Western Districts in 2019.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT In what was a largely disappointing season for the 2017 beaten finalists there weren’t too many highlights however all three of their victories were notable for different reasons. However, by virtue that Uni-Norths Owls made the finals, you’d have to say that the Round 7, 31-13 win at ANU North Oval was the most complete performance. Flyhalf Sebastian Lorraway certainly enjoyed his afternoon out, crossing for three of Wests’ five tries with TP Luteru and Maligi Finau claiming the others on a memorable afternoon. Tristan Stanley converted three of the scores on a day in which the Owls were unable to keep pace with a fired-up and determined team. That proved what might have been for Wests, but it was mostly downhill from there.
SEASON RESULTS R1: Bye R2: Easts (h) D 22-22 R3: Whites (h) L 20-26 R4: Eagles (a) L 31-36 R5: Royals (a) L 19-38 R6: Vikings (h) L 17-35 R7: Owls (a) W 31-13 R8: Bye R9: Easts (h) L 13-42 R10: Royals (a) L 0-43 R11: Whites (a) W 30-10 R12: Easts (a) W 51-36 R13: Eagles (h) L 5-29 R14: Bye R15: Vikings (a) L 19-55 R16: Owls (h) L 12-40 R17: Royals (h) L 22-38
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brodie Leber was Wests standout performer in 2018. Part of the 2017 Grand-Final squad as a Colt, the 21-year-old kicked into a higher gear in 2018, growing into his role as a terror in the loose from Number 8. The sevens star was joint-top scorer for Wests, dotting down for seven tries in total despite playing in a struggling side. Leber was named in the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Team of the Week five times in total leading to his inclusion in the Team of the Year presented at the McDougall Medal Awards. Leber will now play in the National Rugby Championship [NRC] as well, not a bad season for the Wests brightest light.
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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. 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) who shares the accolade in 2016. Abel was a pivotal member of the Easts team that posted their best set of results for many years, leading Head Coach Tim Cornforth’s new game-plan that resulted in the club ending their long-wait for a Premier League First Grade victory in the competition. His precise service and calm head were instrumental in some
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exciting Easts rugby. 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. He played with a strong set of values and thus earned a great deal of respect from players, officials and administrators alike. In a period of rugby renowned for its tough physical play and power at the front of the scrum, Stuart’s abilities were unmatched. Stuart continues to be highly regarded by all those involved with rugby because of his loyalty to the game and his fellow players.
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TEAM OF THE SEASON ANNOUNCED The Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup Team of the Season was announced at the MacDougall medal Awards Night on Wednesday 15 September with each of the named players taking home an engraved glass tankard as a memento of their nomination into the twenty-three players selected. The team was picked utilising the MacDougall Medal votes and the Club’s own 3-2-1 votes per match. Tuggeranong Vikings led the way with most representation in the squad with eight players in total whilst fellow Grand Finalists Canberra Royals had three selections. The strength of the competition in 2018 was such that all seven clubs have representatives selected in the end of season team. Both MacDougall Medallists, Jacob Abel (Easts) and Jake Helgesen (Eagles) are of course included with four of the 23 having played in a Super Rugby match for the Plus500 Brumbies.
GRIFFIN LEGAL JOHN I DENT CUP 2018 Team of the Season
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Sione Taula (Vikings) Sione Lolohea (Royals) Angus Wagner (Vikings) Will Morrison (Royals) Jake Helgesen (Gungahlin) Ryan Kiely (Wests) David Bennett (Uni-Norths) Brodie Leber (Wests) Jacob Abel (Easts) Isaac Thompson (Vikings) Jamie Marmont (Queanbeyan) Jordan Jackson-Hope (Vikings) Noah Lolesio (Vikings) George Morseu (Easts) Brendon Taueki (Vikings)
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Michael Henry (Vikings) Mees Erasmus (Easts) Isileli Fa (Uni-Norths) OJ Noa (Queanbeyan) Michael Oakman-Hunt (Vikings) Pedro Rolando (Royals) Mack Hansen (Gungahlin) Sam Irwin (Uni-Norths)
2018 STAMPEDE
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2018 has been described as the Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup’s most competitive season in recent memory, largely because many teams have players in their squad who could compete at a higher-level. The National Rugby Championship [NRC] is viewed as a place where these club rugby gems can bridge the gap to professionalism, a competition designed so that unearthed Super Rugby players don’t stay in the dark. When Nick Scrivener named his Canberra Vikings squad for the new season, a few of the John I Dent’s best were included, and in the early stages of the competition it was clear the club-boys aren’t just there to make up the numbers. Under the bright lights of Viking Park, with Fox Sports covering the game, two of last season’s top-performers ran out alongside thirteen Brumbies when Canberra got their campaign underway in early-September. Sione Taula, fresh off winning a Premiership with Tuggeranong Vikings started at loosehead prop whilst Luke Kimber, who was on the wrong side of that Grand-Final result with Royals though he was undoubtedly their best-on-ground that day, earned the number seven shirt for the Vikings clash with Queensland Country.
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LIGHTING UP THE NRC
An incredible result for those players personally and the John I Dent Cup competition. Len Ikitau, who has recently been drafted in by the Brumbies, started at 13 having also starred at Club level last season. There was also a place for some other John I Dent performers in the reserves. Tom Ross, who recently signed his first professional contract with the Brumbies, came on at tighthead having impressed with the Gungahlin Eagles in 2018. Brodie Leber was Wests top scorer last season, and he made his NRC debut off the bench as well. Not required on the night, but excellent in the curtain raiser were Vikings squad members Mitch Tye (Wests), Max Bode (Uni-Norths) and Co-winner of the Macdougall Medal award, Jacob Abel (Easts). Royals pair, Pedro Rolando and Seth Going, weren’t involved in the ACT XV’s fixture against the Brumbies U19 but have been contributing well to the squad. Grassroots rugby is a hot topic right now so it’s great to see that the John I Dent Cup’s best and fairest are getting their chance to impress on the national stage.
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-
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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SEASON RESULTS ROUND 1 Saturday 7 April Easts 22 Uni-Norths 20 Queanbeyan 39 Gungahlin 38 Tuggeranong 31 Royals 32 ROUND 2 Saturday 14 April Uni-Norths 15 Queanbeyan 24 Gungahlin 24 Tuggeranong 66 Wests 22 Easts 22 ROUND 3 Saturday 21 April Royals 38 Gungahlin 5 Uni-Norths 17 Tuggeranong 17 Wests 20 Queanbeyan 26 ROUND 4 Saturday 28 April Easts 25 Royals 23 Queanbeyan 10 Tuggeranong 29 Gungahlin 36 Wests 31 ROUND 5 Saturday 5 May Royals 38 Wests 19 Uni-Norths 22 Gungahlin 10 Tuggeranong 71 Easts 24 ROUND 6 Saturday 12 May Royals 26 Uni-Norths 24 Easts 20 Queanbeyan 29 Wests 17 Tuggeranong 35
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ROUND 7 Saturday 19 May Uni-Norths 13 Wests 31 Queanbeyan 20 Royals 28 Gungahlin 18 Easts 24 ROUND 8 Saturday 26 May Gungahlin 28 Queanbeyan 31 Tuggeranong 34 Royals 21 ROUND 9 Saturday 2 June Uni-Norths 25 Gungahlin 24 Queanbeyan 15 Tuggeranong 22 Wests 13 Easts 42 ROUND 10 Saturday 9 June Easts 26 Uni-Norths 41 Royals 43 Wests 0 ROUND 11 Saturday 16 June Gungahlin 20 Royals 12 Queanbeyan 10 Wests 30 Tuggeranong 28 Uni-Norths 31 ROUND 12 Saturday 23 June Easts 36 Wests 51 Queanbeyan 24 Uni-Norths 17 Tuggeranong 31 Gungahlin 21 ROUND 13 Saturday 30 June Royals 33 Easts 7 Wests 5 Gungahlin 29 Tuggeranong 37 Queanbeyan 14
ROUND 14 Saturday 7 July Gungahlin 27 Queanbeyan 24 Royals 19 Tuggeranong 15 Uni-Norths 41 Easts 17 ROUND 15 Saturday 14 July Uni-Norths 26 Royals 25 Queanbeyan 46 Easts 46 Tuggeranong 55 Wests 19 ROUND 16 Saturday 21 July Easts 19 Gungahlin 48 Royals 28 Queanbeyan 24 Wests 12 Uni-Norths 40 ROUND 17 Saturday 28 July Easts 33 Tuggeranong 57 Gungahlin 47 Uni-Norths 5 Wests 22 Royals 38 SEMI-FINALS Saturday 4 August Tuggeranong 20 Royals 26 Sunday 5 August Uni-Norths 17 Gungahlin 27
SEASON RECORDS BIGGEST HOME WIN (Points): 71pts, Tuggeranong 71 Easts 24 (Round 5, 05/05/18) BIGGEST HOME WIN (Margin): 53 pts, Tuggeranong 71 Easts 24 (Round 5, 05/05/18) BIGGEST AWAY WIN (Points): 66pts, Gungahlin 24 Tuggeranong 66 (Round 2, 14/04/18) BIGGEST AWAY WIN (Margin): 42pts, Gungahlin 24 Tuggeranong 66 (Round 2, 14/04/18) HIGHEST SCORING DRAW: 92pts, Queanbeyan 46 Easts 46 (Round 15, 14/07/18) HIGHEST AGGREGATE POINTS: 95pts, Tuggeranong 71 Easts 24 (Round 5, 05/05/18) MOST POINTS IN DEFEAT: 38pts, Queanbeyan 39 Gungahlin 38 (Round 1, 07/04/18)
PRELIMINARY FINAL Saturday 11 August Tuggeranong 58 Gungahlin 7 GRAND FINAL Saturday 18 August Royals 17 Tuggeranong 29
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