The Queanbeyan Whites have found their first win of the season this afternoon following a stellar second half proving too much for Wests Lions to handle taking down the side 37-20.
The was-undefeated Wests started off with a bang as it would only take the visitors two minutes to find the try line as flyhalf Oryaan Kalolo proved too tough to be taken down one-on-one busting through a defender 20 metres out before accelerating to the home sides line. Converted by Luke Depiazzi from right in front on the posts Wests were up 7-0 in just two minutes of play.
Later in the tenth minute after continuing their momentum Depiazzi would take an early opportunity to extend Wests lead via a penalty goal. However this would kickstart a Queanbeyan shootout as Cullin Cooper-Jones would take note and open the Whites scoring with three penalty goals in the 14th, 17th and 21st minutes respectively.
As the scoreline sat at 10-9 to Wests with just one try scored, the Lions would finally find a way to extend their lead through Timoci Sauvoli edging his way forward in a maul before using brute force to slam the ball down in the Queanbeyan in-goal.
Keeping momentum flowing with their already strong first half Wests, would find their final try of the match through fullback Timoci Naivaluwaqa as a scrum on the right side of the field would provide a chance for a long shift to the left side, before winger Luke Kilkeary would evade Queanbeyan defences and hand off to Naivaluwaqa to finish the effort. With another unsuccessful conversion attempt this would take Wests into the sheds with a 20-9 lead.
Determined to not face their fifth consecutive loss to start the season, the home side would rally and begin their second half spree in the 47th minute. Opening their try scoring account in style, the Whites would spread the ball from coast to coast with the help of a falling pass from Jean-benit Madjaga before winger Eli Sagala put it down in the corner. Converted by Cooper-Jones the Whites were back in the match facing off just a 20-16 deficit.
Riley Turner would be the man to give the Whites a lead as the forward powered through four Wests defenders close to the line and dragged them all the way to where the ball would eventually be planted. Converted again by Cooper-Jones the Whites would lead for the first time in the match, being up 23-20 with 26 minutes remaining.
Later in the 68th minute, hooker Davea Teoteo masterfully tucked himself away behind a strong Queanbeyan maul before he managed to dart away to the right and dive in for a try right under the Lions noses.
To conclude the try scoring for the afternoon, the Whites would look to complete their fairytale second half before being denied via Wests foul play which resulted in a penalty try to the home side, giving a final score of 37-20 to the Whites.
Queanbeyan Whites 37 (Tries: Sagala, Turner, Teoteo, Penalty try; Conversions: Cooper-Jones 3; Penalty Goals: Cooper-Jones 3) def. Wests Lions 20 (Kalolo, Sauvoli, Naivaluwaqa; Conversions Depiazzi; Penalty Goals: Depiazzi)
