The Tuggeranong Vikings have come away with a 32-25 win over the Canberra Royals in a seesawing affair at Phillip Oval in Round 2 of the 2024 John I Dent Cup.
The home side opened the scoring in the 13th minute through a penalty goal to scrumhalf Pedro Rolando, the veteran celebrating his 150th first grade appearance for the Canberra Royals.
Rolando increased the lead to 6-0 after 22 minutes of play with another penalty, the Vikings pinged for repeated infringements deep in their own half.
The visitors almost struck back immediately when Viking's Junior Time-Taotua made a half break down the left edge 50 metres out from their try line. The outside centre offloading to Shane Wilcox in support, who was unable to retrieve his own chip kick behind the defence.
Tuggeranong were rewarded for their continued pressure in the Royal's half, No.8 Justin Sikimeti breaking through several tacklers from 22 metres out to crash over down the right edge. The Vikings cutting into the Royal's lead 6-5 after 26 minutes.
The Vikings turned it up a gear with winger Thomas Hayes zipping through a gap in the Royal's defence off the kick off. Hayes offloading to lock Cooper Taekata, who would shift it onto scrum half Wally Wentzel in an exciting passage of play.
Prop Sila Titiuti collecting the spoils several phases later to score from the back of a ruck close to the line. Flyhalf Louis Bartley-Saena converted from in front to steal a 12-6 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
The Royals enjoyed some much needed possession and field territory heading into the main break. And after some sustained pressure, the Vikings were unable to hold out the home side. The Royals taking advantage of an overlap with BJ Oates the beneficiary, streaking down the right touch line. Rolando slotting the conversion to retake the lead 13-12 before heading into the sheds for halftime.
Canberra were off to a tough start when hooker Liam Bowron was yellow carded two minutes into the restart for an off-the-ball incident.
The Vikings would opt to kick for the line and chance their arm with the 1-man advantage. Hooker Joel Leiper driving through the opposition defence in the ensuing attacking line-out to regain the lead. Bartley-Saena converting his second of the afternoon, pushing the score to 19-13 with 51 minutes on the clock.
The possession was started to build for the Vikings, continuing their dominance in field territory to start the second half. After attacking the Royal's try line phase after phase, Tuggeranong would hit the short side with Bartley-Saena putting Time-Taotua through to barge over for a 26-13 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the match.
The Royals fought valiantly to get themselves back into the match. After camping themselves in the the Vikings half, the visitors started to wilt under the duress from the Royal's forward pack. After several repeated team infringements, Tuggeranong scrum-half Wentzel was shown yellow for being offside at the scrumbase.
The home side backed their scrum prowess and were rewarded with a penalty try close to the line after another scrum transgression. The Royals cutting the deficit to 6-points, trailing the Vikings 26-20.
A penalty to the Vikings shortly after the kick restart for a ruck infringement killed the Royal's momentum and gifted Tuggeranong some breathing space on the scoreboard.
Bartley-Saena converting from in front to increase the lead by 9-points. The fly-half converting another penalty opportunity moments later with the score pushed out to 32-20.
A late try to Royal's centre Lincoln Smith with just over two minutes remaining on the clock provided a glimmer of hope for the home team.
Time running out on a late comeback for the home side. Tuggeranong Vikings holding on for a 32-25 win over the Canberra Royals in an entertaining encounter at Phillip Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Tuggeranong Vikings 32 (Tries: Joel Leiper, Junior Time-Taotua, Justin Sikimeti, Sila Titiuti; Conversions: Louis Bartley-Saena 3; Penalties: Louis Bartley-Saena 2) def. Canberra Royals 25 (Tries: BJ Oates, Lincoln Smith, Penalty Try ; Conversions: Pedro Rolando 2; Penalties: Pedro Rolando 2)
