Welcome to our live blog for the first day of the ACT Premier Rugby Finals Series at Viking Park!
Game Day Schedule: Qualification Finals - Saturday 16 August
Field 1
- 11am - Premier Colts (Tuggeranong Vikings v Quenbeyan Whites)
- 1.10pm - Spence Cup (Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals)
- 3:30pm - John I Dent Cup (Canberra Royals v Uni-Norths Owls)
Field 2
- 9.30am - Premier 4th Grade First Division (Gungahlin Eagles v Canberra Royals)
- 11.40am - Premier 3rd Grade (Uni-Norths Owls v Queanbeyan Whites)
- 1.50pm - Premier 15's (Wests Lionessses v Tuggeranong ViQueens)
FT: Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 59
Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 59 (80') - Madness. Sapsford with another piece of brilliance, chipping and chasing and beating usual teammate Andy Muirhead. No one was expecting a scoreline like this. Owls must be considered favourites off the back of that effort. Royals will be curious spectators for tomorrow's elimination clash.
Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 52 (78') - Sapsford caps off the perfect day for Uni. Joe Dillon trying to force the action, throwing an easy intercept for the Brumbies utility. Toa adds the extras. Owls fans frantically clearing the calendar for two weeks time.
Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 45 (76') - What a performance. Toby MacPherson with a chip and chase to make Stephen Larkham proud, his pace on display too as he scores a cracker. Spirits are high amongst the Owls faithful and understandably so. Conversion slotted from out wide by Toa.
Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 38 (74') - Uni-Norths can start planning for a grand-final. Their scrum domination has been nearly unbelievable. This time they're rewarded with a penalty try.
Royals 19 - Uni-Norths 31 (63') - We're not done yet. Dan Nelson hits Aiesi Siolo square on the chest who strolls over untouched. Game well and truly on here. Oates converts to reduce the margin to 12.
Royals 12 - Uni-Norths 31 (45') - The rolling maul pays off yet again for Uni, who have now taken real control of this match. Dylan Challita is the man that comes up with the score, Toa converts from an acute angle.
HT: Royals 12 - Uni-Norths 24
Royals 12 - Uni-Norths 24 (40') - A penalty on the stroke of half-time sees Uni-Norths take a twelve point lead into half-time. Another wise decision to turn down the points on offer, as Ollie Sapsford runs through untouched to score. Toa converts.
Royals 12 - Uni-Norths 17 (38') - Royals' decision to kick to the corner pays dividends. Brumby Rory Scott profits at the back of the rolling maul. Oates can't quiet convert from near the sideline.
Royals 7 - Uni-Norths 17 (30') - Uni-Norths strike in the corner to extend the lead to ten. A penalty advantaged allowed for a swift backline movement, with Tuilagi and Toa linking up to send Bonsembiante over. The conversion attempt is pulled to the left.
Royals 7 - Uni-Norths 12 (20') - Royals strike back through Sam Heffernan. Patience on display by the 'home' team, and they are rewarded with their first points of the match. Chase Oates adds the extras.
Royals 0 - Uni-Norths 12 (10') - Surreal scenes as Royals cough the ball up on their own line. Seti gleefully accepts the loose ball and strolls over for his second. An uncharacteristic start for Royals, and the Owls are well and truly capitalising. Toa knocks over the extra two.
Royals 0 - Uni-Norths 5 (6') - The repeated defensive efforts take their toll on Royals, as Siave Seti spots a gap down the short-side and finishes off the five-pointer. Sam Toa's conversion attempt is unsuccessful.
Royals 0 - Uni-Norths 0 (4') - Uni-Norths piling on the early pressure. Royals have conceded back-to back penalties on their own line, chance here for the Owls.
Up next… The John I Dent Cup Qualifying Final. Royals and Uni-Norths are set to kick off at 3:30PM
FT: Wests 22 - ViQueens 13 - Wests secure their spot in the grand final with a hard-fought victory over Tuggeranong. For the ViQueens, they will play the winner of tomorrow's elimination final between Gungahlin and Uni-Norths
Wests 22 - ViQueens 13 (62') - Tusiga makes a break down the touchline and is too quick for the chasing defenders. That brings her tally today to two, and forces Tuggeranong to chase the game. Harawira's conversion attempt falls short.
Wests 17 - ViQueens 13 (40') - Lomas runs a lovely line to score her second of the match. Tuggeranong will have to tighten up their defence as that was a little too easy for Wests. Harawira has no problem adding the extras.
FT (Spence Cup) - Vikings 58 - Royals 38
HT - Wests 10 - ViQueens 13 - Despite conceding two early tries, Tuggeranong have taken a three-point lead into half-time. Credit is due to their defence, given the ominous signs early. The Lionesses will focus on converting possession into points in the second half.
Wests 10 - ViQueens 13 (35') - Vika Ngata would not be denied! The ViQueens prop receives the ball off the tap and carries four defenders over the line. Edwards converts from in front to take the lead into half-time.
Wests 10 - ViQueens 6 (30') - Edwards closes the gap with another penalty. Despite the wind picking up, she has no trouble from a similar spot to the first. Both defences standing up as this match has turned into a bit of an arm-wrestle.
Meanwhile, in our Spence Cup 2nd Grade Qualifying Final, Vikings lead Royals 32-24 with under 20 minutes left on the clock. Edge of your seat stuff down at Viking Park.
Wests 10 - ViQueens 3 (15') - Siena Edwards opens Tuggeranong's account with a penalty from 20 metres out.
Wests 10 - ViQueens 0 (12') - Some slick hands through the backs results in a try to Aaliyah Lomas. Westies are off to the dream start here, and are showing no signs of slowing down. The conversion by Huriwai narrowly misses, striking the post.
Wests 5 - ViQueens 0 (3') - Westies open proceedings in style! Hooker Jacqueline Pele breaks through the line before finding Fogamanona Tusiga who crashes over. The conversion attempt is unsuccessful by Jasmin Huriwai.
Kick off - We're underway here in our Premier 15's Qualifying Final!
Here are the teams for the Premier 15s qualifying final between Wests Lionesses and Tuggeranong ViQueens that kicks off at 1.50pm:
Wests Lionesses:
- Jane Morrison
- Jackie Eneliko
- Khalehla Mupudzi
- Chelsea O'Brien
- Nan Ailao
- Allie Booker
- Em Wright
- Kiana Harawira
- Lola Fletcher
- Becka Marsters
- Mayah Amosa
- Jay Huriwai
- Liyah Lomas
- Zali Gibson
- Emily Stanberg
Substitutes: Bella Epati-Hopoate, Sydnee CookeMon Gonzalez, Paige Armstrong, Bianca Lincoln.
Tuggeranong ViQueens:
- Vika Alani Ngata
- Liv Radulovich
- Jess Boxall-Mau
- Bridget O'Sullivan
- Molly Kelly
- Dayna Cockbain
- Georgie Prasad
- Tinai Rogoyawa
- Jade Bunn
- Siena Edwards
- Tino Faitua
- Teliya Hetaraka
- Llana Tabulutu
- Charlie Ott
- Charlotte Roach
The results from today so far:
- Premier 4th Grade: Gungahlin Eagles 64 - 19 Canberra Royals
- Premier Colts: Tuggeranong Vikings 7 - 20 Queanbeyan Whites
- Premier 3rd Grade: Uni-Norths Owls 52 - 24 Queanbeyan Whites
- Premier 15's Womens: Wests Lionesses 22 - 13 Tuggeranong ViQueens
- Spence Cup 2nd Grade: Tuggeranong Vikings 58 - 38 Canberra Royals
