Gungahlin Bulls (5) 30 defeated Tuggeranong Bushrangers (6) 16 at Gungahlin Town Centre Oval
The Gungahlin Bulls have snapped a three game losing streak by upstaging the Tuggeranong Bushrangers 30-16 at home.
Gungahlin were bitterly disappointed to have lost to the bottom of the ladder Belconnen United Scholars last week and were out to make amends in Round 8.
The victory by the Bulls was on the back of doubles to James Ulrick and Nathan Corby as well as a tireless effort from the side’s forward pack led by back-rower and Captain Josh Ayres.
After promising early season form, Tuggeranong has slumped to sixth place on the ladder and have not recorded a victory since Round 4.
Gungahlin Bulls 30 (James Ulrick 2, Nathan Corby 2, Brad Wood, Dwayne Connors tries; Dwayne Connors 3 goals) defeated Tuggeranong Bushrangers 16 (Sam Blayden, Mitch McAppion, Ilija Cotric tries; Pete DeMamiel 2 goals)
West Belconnen Warriors (3) 22 defeated Belconnen United Scholars (8) 8 at Northbourne Oval
West Belconnen has climbed to third place on the ladder after defeating local rivals Belconnen United 22-8 at Northbourne Oval.
The week prior, the Warriors had broken into the top four after being the first team to defeat the Queanbeyan Kangaroos in 2014 and backed that up effort with a comprehensive performance over the Scholars.
“We’re in the top four now and that’s where we want to stay,” hooker Nic Whatman said in the lead up to the clash. “It’s a really tight comp and you can’t afford to lose too many games so it is imperative that we turn up every week.
“We wanted to get back-to-back wins and continue our form so we’re really happy with the result today but we’ve still got plenty of work to do to prove we are a semi-final worthy team,” Whatman said after the match.
The Warriors have not tasted defeat since Round 4.
West Belconnen Warriors 22 (Scott Jones, Dayne Ewings, Tim Sloman, Tevita Aroha-Tuinauvai tries; Scott Jones 3 goals) defeated Belconnen United Scholars 8 (Chris Faaee 2 tries)
Queanbeyan Blues (1) 22 defeated Goulburn Workers Bulldogs (4) 12 at Seiffert Oval
The Queanbeyan Blues have leapfrogged Goulburn to the top of the TTM Canberra Raiders Cup ladder after a grinding 22-12 win over the Bulldogs at home.
Queanbeyan had previously defeated Goulburn 26-22 in the opening round of the competition and the Round 8 clash proved to be a similarly tightly fought affair.
The Blues scored three tries to two however it was the goal kicking of Canberra Region Representative back-rower Levi Freeman that stretched the lead out.
Freeman converted all three tries as well as slotting two penalty goals to punish Goulburn’s lack of discipline.
Queanbeyan Blues 22 (Tom Ruediger, Leu Saipani, Tom Leddy tries; Levi Freeman 5 goals) defeated Goulburn Workers Bulldogs 12 (Tim Turner, Nathan Chappell tries; Ben Picker 2 goals)
Queanbeyan Kangaroos (2) 30 defeated Woden Valley Rams (7) 28 at Phillip District Oval
Woden has gone painstakingly close to upsetting defending premiers the Queanbeyan Kangaroos after nearly turning around a 26-0 deficit to lose 30-28 at home.
The Rams were bracing themselves for a fired up Kangaroos outfit after they lost their first match of the year last week to West Belconnen Warriors in what Coach Aaron Gorrell described as their “worst performance in five years.”
Queanbeyan made a strong statement early on racing out to a 26-0 half-time lead however Gorrell was left fuming after the match as his side took their foot off the accelerator and invited Woden back into the contest.
“We're lifting for the good sides and staying at the bottom sides' standards, and it's frustrating,” he said. “I keep saying we're not playing well enough and we're dodging bullets but we are. Today was a perfect example.”
Despite a poor start, the youthful Woden outfit should be commended after their tremendous fight back.
Alas, the Rams have now succumbed to their seventh loss of the year. Aside from one annihilation, six of those losses have been by 10 points or less; portraying clearly the competitiveness and spirit within the side.
“Our turnover rate and unforced errors are terrible,” Coach Cameron Hardy said. “You can't give a team like the Roos that much ball and not expect to get caned for it.
“It's the tale of our season, we keep coming alive in the last 15 or 20 minutes, and we can't keep doing it. The boys themselves said straight afterward, we have to be in the contest earlier.”
Queanbeyan Kangaroos 30 (Jordan Macey, Jed Pearce, Fonua Tonga, Luke Jones, Troy Whiley, Sione Afemui tries; Jordan Macey 3 goals) defeated Woden Valley Rams 28 (Ben Maguire, Jordan Martin, Luke Johnson, Brad Martin, Charlie Hallam tries; Jeff Morgan 4 goals)
