Queanbeyan Whites claimed the First Division Second Grade silverware with a 22-5 win over Wests in a feisty clash which saw three players sent off in the second half.
Whites though were deserved winners and outscored Wests by four tries to one.
The first half provided us with a classic Grand Final contest, an arm-wrestle between two sides who were determined to make sure that errors were limited. Defence, as was expected, was first class with no quarter asked or given.
Whites had the better of the play, both territorially and when in possession, but the underdogs Wests were lively on the break and caused one or two problems to Queanbeyan. The only score of the first half arrived midway through the opening forty minutes when prop Jason Wirangi forced his way over from close range.
A physical second half continued in much the same vein until, twelve minutes in, number eight Aaron McGuinness chipped ahead for winger William Truscott who was hauled down short of the line. Whites recycled and Daniel Hawke sent a spiral pass wide to Dan Penca who crashed over in the corner.
Frustrations boiled over after the Whites won a scrum against, the head leading three red cards with McGuinness from the Whites receiving his marching orders alongside Wests, Lola Kaihea and Patrick Bacon, as a melee erupted which slightly soured the occasion in front of a large crowd at Viking Park.
With both teams down to thirteen, the Whites took advantage of the space in the Wests backline to claim a third try through Gordon Daunitutu, the conversion from Aaron Robinson moving the score to 17-0.
Wests continued to press hard and, to their credit, grabbed a consolation score through hooker Toni Tu’ulakitau, but Whites has the last word as Toby Allen went over in the corner to set the seal on the win.
First Division Second Grade
Grand Final
Queanbeyan Whites (5) 22 (T: Michael Doyle, Dan Penca, Gordon Daunitutu, Toby Allen, C: Aaron Robinson) Wests (0) 5 (T: Toni Tu’ulikatu)
