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)
