Kangaroos Bounce to 3-0

The Queanbeyan Kangaroos excellent start to the season continues with a 22-16 victory against the Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval this afternoon. 

In a rematch of the last two Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup Grand Finals, the Queanbeyan Kangaroos extract revenge from last year's heartbreaking defeat in the last game of the season, grinding the Blues down in a physical contest. 

The Blues started the better of the two sides, with the home side experiencing the better of the field position. 

Needing to take advantage of the early field position it was dummy half, Zaen Edmonds who broke the deadlock and sliced through close to the line with an extravagant show and go, a successful conversion putting the Blues in front 6-0. 

Despite points in the opening ten minutes, neither side was able to settle into their attacking grove with ill-discipline with ball in hand uncharacteristically plaguing the sides from Queanbeyan. 

A classy kick from Kangaroos hooker Lachie Ingram found touch for a 40/20 providing his team with their best attacking opportunity of the game.

A chance they were able to convert through five eighth Richie Levita, stepping sharply of his right foot to score and level the match at 6 a piece. 

Despite conceding points the Blues still held majority of the territory and field position, with their forwards winning the battle in the middle. 

This platform provided Dylan McLachlan with a running opportunity on the last tackle, shifting the ball to Jackson Owen who punched through the hole created by McLachlan, before finding Connor Williams who loomed up on the inside, restoring the Blues six-point advantage. 

An error in the set after points was compounded by a penalty, the Kangaroos were given a golden opportunity to hit back immediately, however strong defence from the home side held the visitors at bay. 

The trend of the game continued with the error riddled first half coming to an end, with the Kangaroos having four attacking sets at the Blues line to no avail seeing the score 12-6 to the home side at the break. 

Needing a fast start to the second half, the Queanbeyan Kangaroos bounced out of the sheds and march down the field to launch an attacking kick, Williams allowed the ball to bounce and provided the visitors with a chance to level the scores. 

However, the Blues defensive line held firm once again, holding both Omoeboh and Dent up over the try line. 

The weight of possession proved fruitful for the Kangaroos eventually with a crafty shift to the right-hand side, Jesse Dent supplying a silky pass to Patrick Broe to bring the visitors within two.  

The Kangaroos continued to press the Blues defensive line and after turning down a free two points, after a penalty from directly in front, they thought they had led for the first time in the contest, only for the last pass to be ruled forward.  

The Blues ill-discipline continued with an error placing the Kangaroos back onto the attack with this opportunity pounced upon, as Ingram threw a beautiful face ball for a barnstorming Bozzato, the Kangaroos taking the lead 16-12. 

For the first time this afternoon, a side scored back-to-back tries with the Kangaroos marching down the field against a fatiguing Blues outfit, with experienced forward Josh Ayres crashing over. 

Trailing by ten with ten minutes remaining the Blues needed to get moving quickly and after an error from the Kangaroos provided the home side with a scrum just shy of halfway, centre Jamie Mazzarol Kotz beat four defenders in a fantastic individual effort and set up a grandstand finish in the process. 

Points injected life into the home side as they stormed down the field in the ensuing set of six, however the Kangaroos defence held firm and turned the Blues away. 

In a frantic final play, the Blues had a chance to level the scores in the left corner as they desperately kept the ball alive, however the Kangaroos shut the play down and claimed the victory. 

Image by Trish Sullivan