Author: Joshua Matic
By Tom Soulsby The Tuggeranong Vikings farewelled two of their brightest young stars on Saturday with an impressive 28-21 win over Royals in the John I Dent Cup grand final. 2013 Brumbies players Zack Holmes and Colby Faingaa bowed out of the local Canberra club scene victorious, after helping the Vikings win their third title in a row, overcoming a spirited Canberra Royals outfit at Viking Park. Both players will be leaving Canberra and the Brumbies in the off-season after signing with the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels respectively for the 2014 Super Rugby season. For Holmes, the decision to…
The Tuggeranong Vikings are again the John I Dent Cup champions, winning their third straight title 28-21 against the Canberra Royals at Viking Park on Saturday. The match was played in typically physical conditions, and the greatest rivalry of 2013 seemingly continued. The two sides had displayed great discipline and skill over the course of the year, and both would have been true deservers of the premiership. It was the fourth clash between the clubs this year, with the greatest margin being four points, while two others were decided by two and one points respectively. It was the fourth consecutive…
The Canberra Royals have advanced to the John I Dent Cup grand final in scrappy yet spectacular fashion downing the Queanbeyan Whites 33-30 at Viking Park on Saturday. The Whites dominated the Wests Lions in last week’s minor semi-final, and despite finishing the competition lower on the table than the Royals, could hardly have been considered underdogs for this clash. But the Royals’ slight advantage in composure got them over the line, and coach Russell Ingram could not have been happier. “Our game plan was perfect. The boys were outstanding today, stuck to the way we wanted to play,” he…
The Queanbeyan Whites will face a brutal battle with the Canberra Royals next Saturday after destroying the Wests Lions 45-18 in the John I Dent Cup minor semi final on Saturday. Grand finalists last season, the Lions chose the worst time to be off their game, going down in a disrespectful manner with poor defence and failing to get basic plays right. Having made the last two grand finals only to be defeated by the Tuggeranong Vikings each time, it was a terrible afternoon for coach Craig Robberds, who was understandably disappointed. “They [Whites] were a bit too strong and…
The Tuggeranong Vikings will play in their third consecutive grand final after nudging out the Canberra Royals in the major semi-final 14-13 at Viking Park on Saturday. In what was always tipped to be the major semi-final, the game virtually stood as a grand final preview, and was always going to be a cracker. The Vikings and Royals have developed a bone-crunching rivalry in 2013 which had seen two contests typical to that of one versus two in the competition. Episode one of the rivalry saw the Vikings take a great defensive showing 17-13 while they were upset in episode…
Canberra Royals v Gungahlin Eagles at Phillip Oval The Gungahlin Eagles’ finals hopes hang on a thread after going down 26-21 to the Canberra Royals in a tight battle that went right down to the wire. With the fourth placed Wests Lions having a bye this week, Gungahlin now find themselves more than a win away from the top four, and will need to win nxt week before their final round bye while Wests lose one of their next two games to make the play-offs. However the did themselves no disrespect on the field, only conceding defeat with three minutes to go…
Tuggeranong Vikings v Canberra Royals at Viking Park The Canberra Royals have caused the upset of the season, silencing the Tuggeranong Vikings’ 40th anniversary celebrations and announcing their premiership threat with an emotional 38-36 win at Viking Park. It was an inspired attacking effort from the Royals, who scored two tries right around half time to grab the lead in what may have been their best five minute period all season. The energy was arguably their best all season, and halves Mark Swanepoel and Craig McMahon directed play beautifully, with centre Pedro Rolando collecting one of the most crucial doubles…
Round 9 wrap up for the John I Dent Cup
A Chris Cocca try after the full time siren gave the ACT Griffins a win over NSW Country Cockatoos 38-31 at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Round 8 round up of the John I Dent Cup
Tuggeranong Vikings v Eastern Suburbs at Viking Park The Tuggeranong Vikings have continued their unbeaten season against a highly committed Eastern Suburbs side in a scrappy 39-12 win at Viking Park in round seven of the John I Dent Cup. There is no need to recall how dominant the Vikings have been, and as the only unbeaten side in the competition, were always going to be overwhelming favourites heading into the clash. Eastern Suburbs were very flat in attack last week against the second placed Canberra Royals, but had showed much more potential this season than previous ones having already…
The John I Dent Cup recieved a huge boost in talent this week, with 12 Brumbies contracted players named in the initial starting lineups.