Vikings claim title in a heartland classic grand final
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Brumbies Media Unit
The Tuggeranong Vikings have scored a converted try after full time to defeat the Queanbeyan Whites 30-28 in a sensational Tooheys New John I Dent Cup grand final at Viking Park this afternoon.
The match featured a thrilling final four minutes where the lead changed hands four times and a combined 17 points scored with Tuggeranong claiming the championship on the back of a Tim Curran try and Christian Lealiifano conversion.
Despite scoring three tries to the Whites’ four, the Vikings were kept in the match through the boot of Lealiifano, who sparked a number of attacking raids, set up the Vikings first try and was awarded the Dr Bob Smethills Trophy for man of the match.
Trailing 21-20 at the 76-minute mark, Lealiifano coolly slotted a 30-metre drop goal to give his side a two-point advantage before Whites outside centre Josh Goodall stepped through to score and give his side a 27-23 lead 30 seconds later.
Tuggeranong camped themselves in the Whites quarter for the final two minutes before the weight of pressure and possession took its toll and Curran found a hole in the defensive line to tie up the scores after the siren.
Lealiifano calmly slotted the conversion to give his side a two-point win and allow the Vikings to lift the Tooheys New John I Dent Cup for the first time since 2006.
The Vikings win was made more memorable given they were forced to do it with only 14 men for the final sixty minutes after prop Sione Taula received a red card for fighting. The scuffle also saw Goodall and his opposite number, Ed Stubbs, sin binned for 10 minutes.
While the Whites were seeking their first hatrick of First Grade titles since 1981-1983, Tuggeranong started stronger when Lealiifano jinked through the defensive line before linking with Stubbs, who raced through under the posts after three minutes.
Lealiifano added the conversion and a penalty goal five minutes later.
The Whites struck back on the back of Taula’s send off when Josh Hastings hopped over the line with the Whites skipper also slicing through on half time to send Jamie Marmont on his way to the tryline and give his side a 14-10 half time lead.
The Vikings wrestled back the ascendancy 10 minutes into the second term when Stubbs crossed for his second try after toeing through a Jake Knight charge down inside the Whites quarter.
Lealiifano slotted conversion to take a 17-14 lead before he was forced to defend it five minutes later when Queanbeyan scrumhalf James Stannard charged down the left hand touchline on a 60-metre run. Appearing set to cross in the corner, Stannard was denied by an outstanding cover tackle by Lealiifano.
While Lealiifano added another penalty goal, it wasn’t enough to deter Stannard who exposed some threadbare ruck defence to score at the 67-minute mark.
The win sealed a successful afternoon for Tuggeranong who also won the Colts, Third Grade and Fourth Grade titles, while the result gave coach Glen Christini an individual premiership hatrick after coaching Queanbeyan to their last two titles before joining the Vikings for the 2009 season.
MATCH DETAILS
Tuggeranong Vikings 30 (Ed Stubbs 2; Tim Curran tries; Christian Lealiifano 3/3 conversions, 2/3 penalty goal, 1/1 drop goal) defeated Queanbeyan Whites 28 (Josh Hastings, Jamie Marmont, James Stannard, Josh Goodall tries; John Kevin 4/4 conversions, 0/1 penalty goals) at Viking Park, Wanniassa.
Referee: Brett Bowden
Half time: Queanbeyan Whites 14-10
Crowd: Approx. 3,000
2009 ACT Rugby Union Premier Division Grand Finals - Results
First Grade
Tuggeranong 30 defeated Queanbeyan 28
Reserve Grade
Western District 36 defeated Royals 17
Colts
Tuggeranong 24 defeated Uni-Norths 14
Third Grade
Tuggeranong 21 defeated Uni-Norths 12
Fourth Grade
Tuggeranong 37 defeated Western District 17
Women
Uni-Norths 12 defeated Tuggeranong 5
