Davis Scores Five as Bushrangers Lock in Finals Berth

The Tuggeranong Bushrangers have locked in their spot in the 2025 Canberra Raiders Cup finals series with a comprehensive 62-12 victory against the Yass Magpies at Greenway Oval. 

In a dominant first half, the Tuggeranong Bushrangers blew the visitors off the park, with their flyer Lachie Davis scoring five tries and securing the competitions top try scorer in the process.

In a jittery opening five minutes both sides struggled with completing their sets, with the Magpies having the better of the early field position. 

A shoulder charge penalty on Medlyn, ensured the Bushrangers had a set attacking the visitor's line. 

An attacking set they capitalised on through their five-eight Julian Haywood-Whiley, receiving the ball out the back of shape to the right edge, stepping back through the middle of field and scoring underneath the post. 

Despite holding a six-point lead, the Bushrangers struggled with their competition rate which provided Yass chances to score their first points. 

When Tuggeranong did complete a set in the opening fifteen minutes, however, it would result in points, as an Alexander-McCarthy kick was unable to be defused by Liam Grame, with Jayden Pollard on the spot and beating two defenders to extend the home sides lead to 10-0. 

The second try for the home side kicked them into gear, as their completion rate drastically increased after it. 

The increased ball handling ensured the game was being played in Yass territory, with the Bushrangers earning multiple attacking sets. 

The weight of possession and territory became too much for the Magpies as their defensive lined cracked, with quick hands from Haywood Whiley finding Eppelstun, taking on three defenders and charging over the line. 

The Magpies tried to reduce the deficit with a chip and chase from Bell, however, the Bushrangers five eight plucked it out of the air before finding Lachie Davis to run away and score, tying up the top try scoring race in the process. 

The floodgates appeared to have opened for the Bushrangers as edge backrower Eddie Tiana burrowed low and two defenders to score, making the score 28-0. 

Tuggeranong's strong first half continued with a dynamic shift the left and quick hands from their fullback Jack Davison, finding Cunanan who spun out of a tackle and slammed the ball down. 

At the resumption of the second half both sides settled into an end-to-end arm wrestle looking to focus on high completions and their defence. 

It was the visitors who scored the first of the second half and their first of the afternoon in the process through Jarred Wilson receiving a Cooper O'Connor cut pass to go over untouched. 

Tuggeranong bounced back quickly, however through the competition's new top try scorer Lachie Davis who plucked an Alexander-McCarthy kick out of the air and scoring his second of the afternoon. 

With Yass' season coming to an end, they were prepared to throw caution to the wind, as a chip in behind from Lucas was collected Kaiden Bell who ran thirty for his tenth of the year. 

The try feast at Greenway continued with the Bushrangers Captain Coach Darby Medlyn crashing over untouched under the uprights to extend the lead 44-12. 

The fifty would be brought up only minutes later through the Bushrangers best try of the afternoon, a break from fullback Jack Davison provided the field position for Davis' hat-trick thanks to smart work on the inside from Eppelstun. 

The Bushrangers were giving making sure their fans got their money's worth as Temple Rupapera took off down the right edge and looking straight for his winger Davis, scoring directly under the post for his fourth. 

Lachie Davis' afternoon wasn't over just yet as he crossed for his 5th of the afternoon and 20th of the season, however the highlight was the barnstorming run from Tiumalu who left the Magpies defenders at sixes and sevens. 

The win for the Bushrangers secures a finals birth against the West Belconnen Warriors next week in the minor semi-final.