Queanbeyan through to grand final

Whites prop Jack Kennedy charges forward against Easts

The Queanbeyan Whites have overcome a determined Easts outfit to secure their place in the 2008 Tooheys New John I Dent Cup grand final. The defending premiers qualified for their second successive decider with a narrow 17-12 major semi final win over the Griffith-based club at Viking Park this afternoon.

The Whites, who came into the match on the back of five straight wins, struggled for field position early with Easts looking to spread the ball at every opportunity.  Easts fullback Adi Ison went close to converting the pressure into points but for some excellent sliding defence that saw the ball head into touch.  Ison was denied again moments later after yet another break, this time through winger John Duggan.

Queanbeyan, who remained under siege during the early exchange, had a change of luck when a probing kick bounced horribly for Ison before his rushed attempted touch finder found a charging Andrew Garton who put Whites centre Richard Windsor in under the posts.  The result was a 7-0 score line and it appeared the football gods were smiling upon the reigning champions. 

However, just as it appeared as though the momentum of the game had changed, a Sione Asohivi bust set up some fantastic field position for Easts. From the next play Ison atoned for his earlier error by scoring a well-worked five-pointer in the left corner.  The conversion was waved away. 

Tensions reached boiling point five minutes later when Queanbeyan centre Henry Seavula was sin-binned for a dangerous, dumping tackle.  Despite being a man up, Easts couldn’t crack the opposition try line until the 25th minute, when Daryl Wihapi dove in under the black dot off a smart scrum play.

The Whites finally got back into enemy territory in the 31st minute and it almost paid instant dividends, with a certain try foiled by a desperate knock-down from tri-colours centre Ben Hewitt. 

An infringement at the breakdown just ten out from the line shortly afterwards presented an easy penalty goal attempt for Seavula and he made no mistake. That was to be the only respite for the remainder of the opening stanza for the Whites, with Duggan giving the defence plenty of headaches late in the half and Easts dominating possession and field position for a deserved 12-10 halftime lead.

The side-to-side ball movement of the first half became a thing of the past in the second as the match quickly turned into a grinding affair with the apparent realisation of a spot in the grand final up for grabs.

Queanbeyan was the first to reintroduce the flair midway through the term and the result was a wonderful sweeping backline movement that led to a second try of the day to Windsor and a 17-12 lead.

Big game experience from the premiers proved crucial as Easts launched raid after raid to no avail, as passes were rushed and the mistakes and frustration began to pile up. However, the most telling moment would come with nine minutes left on the clock and the Whites’ defence back-pedalling and in disarray, before Easts’ Phil Wihapi fumbled the ball on the back of a ruck.  On a more fortunate day, the scrumhalf would have got away with the error but it signaled the end of a gold-plated opportunity to steal the game from the favourites. 

Ison produced a half break in the final minute and was forced to kick ahead before his opposite number and Whites captain Josh Hastings covered the loose ball and secured the win for the defending premiers. 

While Queanbeyan will defend the John I Dent Cup in a fortnight, Easts will play the winner of tomorrow’s minor semi final between Royals and Gungahlin.

Queanbeyan 17 (Richard Windsor 2 tries; Henry Seavula 2 conversions, penalty goal) defeated Easts 12 (Adi Ison, Daryl Wihapi tries; Ben Hewitt conversion) at Viking Park

Other grades:

Reserve Grade: Gungahlin 23 defeated Queanbeyan 20
Colts: Queanbeyan 28 defeated Tuggeranong 13
Third Grade: Wests 27 defeated Tuggeranong 7
Fourth Grade: Wests 40 defeated Easts 10
Women: Uni-Norths 26 defeated Royals 17