As ACT Rugby and the John I Dent Cup brace for their Qualification Finals matches at Viking Park, live coverage of the matches will be provided throughout the duration of each match.
Finals matches are available to watch LIVE on Bar TV here.
Game Day Schedule: Qualification Finals - Saturday the 17th of August
Field 1
- 11:00AM AEST - Premier Colts (Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles)
- 1:10PM AEST - Spence Cup (Gungahlin Eagles v Uni-Norths Owls)
- 3:30PM AEST - John I Dent Cup (Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals)
Field 2
- 9:30AM AEST - First Division Second Grade (Canberra Royals v Uni-Norths Owls)
- 11:40PM AEST - First Division First Grade (Wests Lions v Uni-Norths Owls)
- 1:50PM AEST - Premier 15's (Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles)
The Canberra Royals have clinched a spot in the 2024 First Division Second Grade Grand Final with a convincing 38-7 over the Uni-Norths Owls in the opening Week 1 Final's match at Viking Park, Wanniassa.
The Royals skipped out to a 14-0 lead to kick-off the match with their forward pack laying down the platform with tries to Joel Penders and Jake Bindley. The Phillip-based club continuing their dominance across the paddock to head into halftime 35-0.
Both sides lost a player each inside the first 10 minutes of the restart. With the Owls digging deep in contact, the would be rewarded for their efforts when back Tusigaigoa Junior Liva crashed over after a barnstorming run.
The Royals lost a player to a yellow card after an infringement at the ruck. They would steady the ship to close out the match with a successful penalty goal. The Royals earning a week's rest with a 38-7 defeat against the Owls.
The Uni-Norths Owls survive another week when they play the winner of tomorrow's First Division Second Grade Elimination Final between Tuggeranong Vikings and Gungahlin Eagles.
Canberra Royals 38 (Tries: Joel Penders, Jake Bindley, Nick Tankey, Nick Jervis-Hamilton, Jonno Andrew-Copsy; Conversions: Nick Jervis-Hamilton 5; Penalty: Nick Jervis-Hamilton) lead Uni-Norths Owls 7 (Tries: Tusigaigoa Junior Liva; Conversions: Finn Frewin)
Our first match on Field 1 for the finals weekend, will be the Tuggeranong Vikings Colts gracing their home field as they take on the Gungahlin Eagles side who finished just one win shy of the side.
The Vikings would make use of their home ground advantage early as the side would score just two minutes into the match through Wally Wentzel after some hard running play among his forward pack found an early linebreak.
Gungahlin would then get on top and steadily find a lead after two back-to back tries. The Vikings however would claw their way back to a half-time lead with a try at the 35th minute.
The Vikings would stretch their lead out once again, scoring just two minutes into the second half. Alex Powell of Gungahlin would strike back just six minutes later however as the Eagles hoped to keep the match in range.
Despite a late comeback effort attempt and a try on the buzzer Tuggeranong would just claim the match by one point and advance to the Grand Final.
Tuggeranong Vikings 32 (Tries: Wally Wentzel, Faimoto Anthony Lemiso, Joshua Campbell, Joseph Lonergan, Jaiden Masaga; Conversions: Joseph Lonergan 2; Penalty: Joseph Lonergan) def. Gungahlin Eagles 31 (Tries: Cole Taylor, Drew Brndusic, Alex Powell, Deveraux Gafoaleata Tapelu, Samuel McLachlan; Conversions: Samuel McLachlan 3)
The Uni-Norths Owls have overcome a spirited Wests Lions outfit 39-10 in the First Division First Grade Final at Viking Park, Wanniassa on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides were evenly matched for the opening stanza, till Anthony Luchetti broke the deadlock with a 5-pointer for the Owls. The Lions enjoyed possession for a short period of the first half, but found themselves a man down due to foul play.
The Owls taking advantage of the advantage to pile on 20 unanswered points with tries to Riley Sellars and a second 5-pointer to Luchetti. Story keeping a clean sheet with the Owls up 27-0 at the main break.
Wests got themselves back in the game immediately at the resumption when Rohan Murphy crashed over down the right edge. The Lions were full of running and started to dominate possession and territory when centre Desmond Faigafa dove over for West's second try of the afternoon.
Despite their dominance in the second half, the Lions were unable to overcome Uni-Norths. The Owls scoring late through substitute Marcus Burrell and flyhalf Thomas McGain to advance to the First Division First Grade Grand Final with a 39-10 win over the Wests Lions at Viking Park.
The Lions will prepare for an Elimination Final with their opposition to be determined in tomorrow's second day of Finals.
Uni-Norths Owls 46 (Tries: Anthony Luchetti 2, Riley Sellars 2, Marcus Burrell, Thomas McGain; Conversions: Joshua Story 5; Penalty: Joshua Story 2) def. Wests Lions 10 (Tries: Rohan Murphy, Desmond Faigafa)
Continuing on with Premier Grade fixtures on Field 1 will see the a Gungahlin Eagles side with plenty of points in them take on Uni-Norths at 1:10PM.
A hard fought battle from the opening whistle in the Spence Cup Qualification final as Uni-Norths Owls did incredibly well to go into halftime at just a 19-8 defect. With the amount of good ball Gungahlin had in the opening 40, the scoreline certainly could have been much worse off win Uni's case.
That being said, Gungahlin's grit his what keeps them where they want to be on the field, making the Owls fight for every inch of territory.
In the last quarter of the match however a Cameron Johns try would reignite the Owls as they would make a push to close the gap riding their momentum wave.
After absorbing plenty of pressure Gungahlin would eventually get back on the attack and secure one final try that would secure them a ticket to the Spence Cup Grand Final.
Gungahlin Eagles 31 (Tries: Firimata JR Skinner, Lachlan Day 2, Tsumura Taishi; Conversions: Billy Kirk 3) lead Uni-Norths Owls 20 (Tries: Stuart Dingley, Cameron Johns, Ben Roberton; Conversions: Cooper Hansen; Penalty Goals: Cooper Hansen)
The Tuggeranong ViQueens have outmuscled the Gungahlin Eagles 31-12 in Week 1 of the Premier 15s Finals at Viking Park.
The ViQueens dominated possession early on turning the weighted possession into points when back Tijana Zdravevska scooted down the left flank to score under the posts.
Though Gungahlin would hit back through Samantha Chikirov after numerous raids on the ViQueen's line. The Eagles closing the gap with the score at 7-5 with minutes remaining.
The home side had other ideas with time running down to halftime when Wallaroo Tubua Tuinakauvadra powered through the Eagle's defence. The ViQueens going into halftime with a tight 12-5 lead.
Tuinakauvadra got the second half underway when the ViQueens turned over the ball for the back-rower to muscle her way down field for her second.
The Eagles returned serve when they marched down field. Gungahlin rewarded with Angel Kavaliku-Skinner crashing over near the posts.
Though it would be Tuinakauvadra snuffing out any chance of a Eagles fight back when she rolled through for her third of the match to take the score out to 24-12.
Tuggeranong closed out the match when Zdravevska scored her double for the afternoon. The ViQueens advancing to the 2024 Premier 15 Grand Final in a fortnight, taking down the Gungahlin Eagles 31-12 at Viking Park on Saturday afternoon.
Tuggeranong ViQueens 31 (Tries: Tubua Tuinakauvadra 3, Tijana Zdravevska 2; Conversions: Siena Edwards 2, Merania Pareone) def. Gungahlin Eagles 12 (Tries: Samantha Chikirov, Angel Kavaliku-Skinner; Conversions: Olivia Scott)
The Tuggeranong Vikings have taken down the Canberra Royals 34-28 in this afternoon's John I Dent Cup Qualification Final at Viking Park, Wanniassa. The Vikings have now paved their way to the competition decider while the Royals will play in next weekend's preliminary final as they attempt to get another chance against the Tuggeranong side.
The Tuggeranong Vikings enjoyed a fast start to the match when backrower Keynan Tauakipulu barged over the line. Scrum half Ryan Lonergan converting the extras to skip the home side to a 7-0 lead after 3 minutes.
The Vikings continued to pile on the pressure with the Royals camped in their own half. With ball in hand, Tuggeranong march upfield, with the Royals giving way to a 5-pointer to No.8 Justin Sikimeti. Lonergan making no mistake to push the score out to 14-0 inside 10 minutes.
However the Royals played themselves back into the match when they started to build on possession and momentum. The Vikings were unable to put up with constant goal line pressure, with Royal's forward Rory Scott beating two defenders to stretch out for his side's first. Captain Pedro Rolando closing the gap with a conversion to trail the Vikings 14-7 midway through the first half.
The match turned up a notch when the Vikings broke free from the Royal's stranglehold. Tuggeranong centre pairing Joe Wadman and Junior Time Taotua breaking through the Canberra defence with some clever interplay to put fullback Koki Takeyama into space. Takeyama taking advantage of an overlap created by his outside backs for Henry Palmer to dive in the left corner. Lonergan unable to add to the tally from out wide with Vikings building a 19-7 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Both teams unable to add to the scoreboard with the Vikings missing a tough penalty conversion opportunity before the halftime siren.
The Royals got themselves back into the grind early in the second half which paid dividends for the blue baggers as they were able to convert their grit into points in the 54th minute through Jarrah McLeod. With Rolando adding on the extras Royals were back in the chase at 19-14.
Royals momentum was short lived however as Vikings midfielder Junior Time Taotua would make full use of a short ball from teammate Baden Godfrey as he would crash onto the pass and cruise to the try-line.
Going try-for-try Royals would cross next as after a dominant maul from the side would coast 15 metres all the way to the white stripe, adding to their tally by seven after another conversion effort.
Tuggeranong would then show their class with the ball in hand as the Williams would decide a scrum of halfway was a perfect chance to show off Palmer's speed once again. Toeing ahead a grubber from halfway, Palmer would blitz the competition to collect the ball first and score yet another Tuggeranong try.
Desperately trying to claw their way back into the match, the Royals would be camped on Tuggeranong's line relentlessly attempting to crash their way over. After plenty of pick and drive efforts coming up just short, a one off pass from Rolando would find Zac Ross who was able to plant the ball down. Converted once again, the Royals would still have a shot with a 34-28 deficit with five minutes in the bank. Royals however would come up just short as Tuggeranong would hold them out to clench the win.
Tuggeranong Vikings 34 (Tries: Keynan Tauakipulu, Justin Sikimeti, Henry Palmer 2; Penalty Goal: Harri Williams; Conversions: Ryan Lonergan 2) def. Canberra Royals 28 (Tries: Rory Scott, Jarrah McLeod; Conversion: Pedro Rolando 4)
