The Tuggeranong Vikings have taken out the 2011 John I Dent Cup with a devastating 44-18 win over Wests at Viking Park. The Vikings ran rampant with hat tricks to Colby Faingaa and Isikele Ratulevu, who had his by half time, setting the platform in the seven tries to two win.
Wests went into the game as underdogs but that did not deter them as they had the majority of the early possession and got off to a 3-0 lead through Simon Uphill, who was only called into the lineup late this week as a replacement for the injured Jesse Mogg.
This sparked the Vikings into action only minutes later, as their big fullback Isikele Ratulevu crossed for the first of his tries in the corner. Centre Rodney Iona kicked a brilliant conversion from the sideline in the blustery conditions to give his side a 7-3 lead. Wests bridged the gap with another penalty goal from Uphill, but from that point on it was all uphill for Wests as the Vikings started to dominate.
Vikings number 8 Colby Faingaa dived over under the posts for his first of the day and with Iona’s conversion, the Vikings were up 14-6. Then just like the banner Wests ran out onto the field through, their defence was cut to shreds as Ratulevu scored two more tries to have his hat-trick sewn up by the 22nd minute mark.
To their credit, Wests got back in the game and their backs started to cause some problems for the Vikings with outside centre Pama Fou channeling SBW with a great offload to send winger Tom Ruediger over to give his team some hope. The game started to even out and a penalty from Iona late in the half sent the teams to the sheds with the score at 29-11, leaving the vocal crowd to watch the efforts of a member of the Easts club battle the weather and some other obstacles on his way from one end of the field to the other. (Those familiar with ACT Rugby will understand this tradition)
The second half was closer than it seemed on the scoreboard as the Vikings took the foot off the pedal and Wests pushing to get back into the game. It took the Vikings 12 minutes to add to their score when Colby Faingaa broke off the back of a scrum to score his second of the day.
Wests tried to get some go forward and get back into the game but their worst fears of a dangerous Vikings counter attack came to reality when a clearing kick failed to find touch and Jake Knight weaved his way through the defence to all but put the game out of Wests reach.
With the game slipping out of reach, Wests took their chances and Pama Fou swooped on a loose ball and despite the best efforts of the chasing Jake Knight, ran 50 metres to give his side a slim chance of mounting an unlikely comeback with 15 minutes remaining.
Then with the shadows of full time approaching, Man of the match Faingaa secured his third try to give his side a 44-18 win, which is the biggest winning margin in an ACT First Grade Grand Final for over 50 years.
Tuggeranong 44 – Ratulevu 3, C Faingaa 3, Knight tries; R Iona 3 cons, pen def Wests 18 – Ruediger, Fou tries; Uphill con, 2 pens
Other Grand Final results:
Reserve Grade: Tuggeranong 16 def Gungahlin 6
Colts: Queanbeyan 21 def Tuggeranong 12
1st Div 1st Grade: Tuggeranong 27 def Gungahlin 3
1st Div 2nd Grade: Tuggeranong 23 def Wests 18
Womens: Royals 22 def Uni-Norths 7
