Vikings triumph in Grand Final classic
by Andrew Johnston
A 14-man Tuggeranong Vikings has come from behind twice in the final five minutes to defeat two-time defending premiers the Queanbeyan Whites 30-28 in the John I Dent Cup Grand Final at Viking Park on Saturday.
In what will go down as one of the greatest Grand Finals in ACT club rugby history, the Vikings trailed 28-23 as the full time siren sounded before a try to barnstorming fullback Tim Curran broke Queanbeyan hearts.
Tuggeranong's win was made all the more remarkable after prop Sione Taula was sent off midway through the first-half for his role in an all-in brawl that saw the Vikings Ed Stubbs and Queanbeyan's Josh Goodall sent to the sinbin.
Taula's absence, however, was more than compensated for by a man of the match performance from flyhalf Christian Lealiifano who finished with a personal haul of 16 points.
Lealiifano was in the action after just three minutes as the Brumbies pivot cut through some soft Whites defence and found Stubbs in support who crossed under the posts to give the home side an early lead.
A penalty goal to Lealiifano shortly after had Tuggeranong in the ascendency but the match then turned in Queanbeyan's favour as Taula was given his marching orders by referee Brett Bowden in the 20th minute.
The Whites took immediate advantage when Australian Schoolboys inside centre Robbie Coleman showed why he is so highly regarded, offloading in the tackle for fullback Josh Hastings to crash his way over the line.
A try right on half-time to winger Jamie Marmont then gave Queanbeyan a four point buffer at the break.
A second try of the afternoon to Stubbs in the 50th minute following a charge down from Jake Knight saw his side retake the lead before a second penalty goal to Lealiifano took the Vikings out to 20-14.
Having won its last 12 games, including home-and-away victories over Tuggeranong en route to the Grand Final, Queanbeyan wasn't going to give anything away and a period of sustained pressure resulted in a try to halfback James Stannard.
Johnny Kevin's successful conversion gave the Whites a one-point advantage but that was quickly cancelled out by Lealiifano who calmly slotted a field goal from 35 metres out.
In a remarkable finish, Josh Goodall then looked to have secured an historic, third straight premiership for Queanbeyan as he crossed off the subsequent kickoff before Currans' heroics at the death secured Tuggeranong's first premiership since 2006.
Tuggeranong Vikings 30 (E Stubbs 2; T Curran 1; C Lealiifano 3/3 Conv, 2/3 Pen, 1/1 drop goal) def Queanbeyan Whites 28 (J Hastings, J Marmont, J Stannard, J Goodall; J Kevin 4/4 Conv, 0/1 Pen) at Viking Park on Saturday.