The Bushpies pulled off a last-minute win while the Tuggeranong Buffaloes finished their season on a high in the final round of the Katrina Fanning Shield.
Bushpies 12 (Tries: S Afele, E Masi; Goals: E Blowes 2) d Queanbeyan Blues 10 (Tries: S Kiriui, J Williams; Goals: S Wood)
The Bushpies scored in the final two minutes of the game to claim a 12-10 victory over the Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
The two sides play each other in next weekend’s grand final, with the Bushpies heading into that match with the momentum and the edge.
The first quarter of the game was end to end, with both sides having chances to score. A great try saving tackle by Blues halfback Samantha Wood stopped an early Bushpies try.
The Bushpies forced a goal line drop out and second rower Samara Afele capitalised on the field position, running over the tryline to score. Fullback Elissa Blowes kicked the conversion to give the Bushpies a 6-0 lead.
The visiting side had a couple of great attacking sets, but some solid Blues defence forced some errors and prevented the Bushpies from scoring.
Queanbeyan were next to score, with Seluvaia Kiriui crashing over for a try. Wood added the two points, with the score at 6-6 at half time.
The Blues came out firing after the break, with five-eighth Jacinta Williams scoring under the posts to give her side a 10-6 lead.
Both sides threw everything at each other, but the defence held strong.
Great runs by Iris Verebalavu and Afele gave the Bushpies good field position, and winger Ema Masi scored a four-pointer with two minutes to go. Blowes kicked the crucial conversion, sealing the 12-10 win for the Bushpies.
The two sides will face each other in next weekend’s Katrina Fanning Shield grand final.
Tuggeranong Buffaloes 36 (Tries: M Burton 3, M O’Brien, A Kyburz, L Elton, K Lyons, K Churchill; Goals: A Kyburz, K Mitchell) d West Belconnen 0
The Tuggeranong Buffaloes finished their season with a 36-0 win over West Belconnen at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval on Saturday.
The Buffaloes ran in eight tries, with fullback Madeline Burton scoring a hat-trick.
Tuggeranong centre Amanda Kyburz also starred for the visiting side, scoring a try, kicking a conversion and looking dangerous throughout the game.
West Belconnen fought hard in their final match like they have all season, but just couldn’t match it with Tuggeranong.
The Buffaloes finish the 2020 Katrina Fanning Shield season in third place, with West Belconnen in fourth.
