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It’s a cliché, but the John I Dent Cup Preliminary Final between Canberra Royals and Queanbeyan Whites was truly a game of two halves.
A glorious winter afternoon greeted the sides at Viking Park for the 3.30pm do-or-die clash, with the two rivals battling for a place in next weekend’s BentSpoke John I Dent Cup Grand Final.
Queanbeyan club legend Josh ‘Sua’ Townsend led the Whites out for his 100th cap, but it was Royals who would ultimately celebrate, booking their place in the big dance with a 37-21 victory.
With Brumbies players featuring on both team sheets, the Viking Park crowd was primed for a heavyweight battle, and both sides were keen to let the ball sing and play expansive rugby in the picturesque conditions.
A powerful Royals scrum earned a tighthead early, giving fly-half Chace Oates the opportunity to draw first blood from the tee. The cool-headed pivot made no mistake from 22 metres out on the right, putting Royals ahead 3-0 after 10 minutes.
Queanbeyan looked to respond, but Royals continued to find momentum through the middle of the park. A bullocking charge from giant lock Tuukalikali Vaipulu provided the platform, before centre Jarrah McLeod sliced through the defence and found left wing Panua Palemene Tuigamala, who streaked over in the corner.
Oates calmly converted from the sideline to stretch the advantage to 10-0 after 27 minutes.
Royals were beginning to turn the screw, and another clever offload sent No.8 Darcy Fogarty into open space. The athletic back-rower still had work to do, stepping the fullback before racing away to score under the posts.
Oates added the simple conversion to give Royals a commanding 17-point lead with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
The pressure continued immediately after the restart, with a ruck infringement giving Oates another chance from the tee. He made no mistake, extending the lead to 20-0.
The blue jerseys continued to crash like waves against a stubborn Queanbeyan defence, threatening to blow the contest open. The Whites held firm through the final stages of the half, reaching the break without conceding again.
Queanbeyan headed to the sheds with plenty to address, while Royals looked in complete control after a dominant opening 40 minutes.
Whatever was said in the Whites’ sheds at half-time clearly had an impact.
Queanbeyan came out firing, with a scything run from winger Koko Salim putting them within striking distance. A breakdown penalty then gave the Whites a lineout platform, before their forwards powered over for their first five-pointer of the match.
Carroll added the extras to put his side back in the contest at 20-7 after 45 minutes.
The Whites kept their foot on the gas, launching raid after raid into the Royals 22 and beginning to fight their way back into the contest.
But just as the momentum appeared to be shifting, Tuigamala struck against the run of play.
The speedy winger popped up in the Queanbeyan attacking line, intercepted the ball and raced 45 metres to score beside the posts. Oates added the conversion, restoring Royals’ control at 27-7 in the 53rd minute.
Both teams rang the changes as the final quarter approached, with Queanbeyan immediately reaping the rewards.
Slick hands through the Whites’ centres created an opening for Waisea Tudulu to power through, before replacement back-rower Judah Saumaisue continued the movement, pushing his way over from close range.
Carroll added the extras to bring the Whites within striking distance at 27-14.
As had become the story of the second half, Royals hit back immediately. A penalty from close range had the Royals captain pointing to the posts, backing the decision to take the points as Oates pushed his side beyond a two-try margin with 15 minutes remaining.
Again, the pendulum swung back towards Queanbeyan.
The Whites turned to their powerful maul once more, driving over from a lineout deep in the Royals 22. Their forwards led by example, with Brumbies and Wallabies lock Nick Frost the beneficiary as he emerged with the ball.
Carroll was again sure-footed from the tee, making it 30-21 and setting up a grandstand finish to the preliminary final.
But Royals had the final say.
Employing their own driving maul, the blue jerseys worked their way towards the right touchline before turning to the backs. Slick hands sent club great Pedro Rolando racing across the field and over in the left corner to seal the result.
Oates converted to make it 37-21 with eight minutes remaining.
As the sun dipped behind Viking Park, both sides continued to go at each other hammer and tongs, but it was Royals who emerged victorious.
The result books Canberra Royals a place in next Saturday’s Grand Final, setting up another chapter in the fierce South Canberra rivalry between Royals and the Tuggeranong Vikings.
