Katrina Fanning Shield: Finals Week One Wrap

The Belconnen United Sharks return to the Blumers Lawyers Katrina Fanning Shield Grand Final with a tight victory, whilst the Gungahlin Bulls kept their season alive. 

Belconnen United Sharks 16 def. West Belconnen Warriors 8 

The Belconnen United Sharks returned the Katrina Fanning Shield Grand Final after defeating their cross town rivals the West Belconnen Warriors in a physical contest at Seears Workwear Oval. 

The Warriors shot out to an early four-point lead, curtesy of a Elodie Galinier try before the Sharks hit back through Griffith which saw the scores locked at four a piece at the break. 

Belconnen United started the better of the two sides, with back-to-back to their strike players Paunovic and Taylor setting up a two-score game. 

Crystal Papalii scored to set up a grandstand finish, however edge backrower Charlise Cleary scored off a scrum, booking the Sharks into the 2026 decider. 

The West Belconnen Warriors can take confidence from last year's finals campaign going the long way round to claim the 2025 Premiership. 

Gungahlin Bulls 20 def. Woden Valley Rams 10 

The Gungahlin Bulls have advanced to the 2026 Preliminary Final with a tight ten-point victory against the Woden Valley Rams. 

The Woden Valley Rams started the better of the two sides, scoring the opening try of the contest through fullback Lara Cosgrove. 

Gungahlin hit back through their centre combination of Molly Sturggis and April Downey and edge backrower Takira Gaspari ensuring they led at the break, 16-6. 

Hollie Shepherd scored halfway through the second half bringing the Rams within two points, however a second try for Molly Sturgiss in the final two minutes ensured the Bulls advanced to the Preliminary Final. 

The Gungahlin Bulls face the West Belconnen Warriors at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval in an exciting Preliminary Final with the Belconnen United Sharks awaiting in the Grand Final.

Image by Trisha Sullivan