One team is through to the 2023 Canberra Raiders Cup Grand Final.
The Tuggeranong Bushrangers have qualified, defeating the minor premiers, the Queanbeyan Kangaroos last Sunday. The result means the Roos must now head into this weekend's do or die Preliminary Final.
Meanwhile, the 2022 premiers, the West Belconnen Warriors, have been eliminated from the title race, beaten by the Belconnen Sharks in a reversal of the result from the clash between the clubs just one week earlier. The Sharks are still alive.
So this Sunday, 3:20pm. The Preliminary Final. Roos versus Sharks. And in my best Matt Nable voice, I say "bring it on!"
Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Belconnen Sharks
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos finished the regular season as minor premiers, clearly the No. 1 attacking and defensive team. They lost just one game during the regular season - a one point defeat at the hands of the Tuggeranong Bushrangers. And in Week 1 of the finals, the Bushies again upset the Queanbeyan team's apple cart.
The competition's leading try scorer, Jack Davison was the first to score, giving the Bushrangers an early 6-0 advantage. But a double to Kangaroos centre Harry Quinlan saw the home team take control.
In the 23rd minute, Roos fullback Kaine Pagura grubbered ahead and chased the ball himself. He was just able to flick the ball back into the in goal, before it went dead. Quinlan simply had to put his hand on the ball. Five minutes later, Sam Williams put in a cross field bomb to the try line, and Quinlan was there again - plucking the ball out of the air to score. A Sam Williams field goal, in the final seconds of the first half, gave the Roos a seven point lead at the the break.
It was almost all the Bushrangers in the second half. Forward Titan Sega crossed near the posts in the 45th minute, while Brad Buckley crashed over from dummy half with just under 20 minutes remaining. The visitors had a five point lead. Both teams had tries denied in the final stages - first the Bushrangers for obstruction. Soon after the Kangaroos' Adam Barlow was penalised for a double movement. In the end, the Roos were held scoreless in the second forty - and Tuggeranong prevailed, 18-13.
The West Belconnen Warriors and Belconnen Sharks met in the final round of the regular season at Kippax - with the Warriors running out 26-18 victors. A week later, the Sharks managed to turn the tables, just.
The Sharks led 24-16 at the 60 minute mark of the elimination final. But two tries in the space of four minutes gave the Warriors a 28-24 lead in the 75th minute. The Sharks were not done. Winger Jack Mills struck back with less than three minutes left on the clock - choosing to run towards the inside before planting the ball over the line. It probably gave half Jack Beagley a slightly easier conversion attempt. His goal delivered the two points needed for victory.
30-28, five tries each. Warriors winger Brandon Withers produced an hat trick and a personal points haul of 20 points. But it was Beagley's kicking which proved the difference.
Sharks player-coach Zac Patch was happy with the efforts of his team.
"I thought we had it earlier when we were up by eight, then they clawed back into it," Patch told The Canberra Times.
"It was a good fought game from both sides. That's what finals footy feels like. We collapsed a few times throughout the year but that was an 80-minute performance."
The Preliminary Final will be a clash between first and fourth on the competition ladder. The Kangaroos have a positive points differential of 430 points, the Sharks have been out scored by their opponents overall. The Kangaroos have beaten the Sharks in both of the earlier contests between the clubs this year. The aggregate score in those two games was 90-14. It would be a mighty upset if the Sharks could beat the Roos in this one. It is possible, but I do think it is unlikely.
My tip: Kangaroos.
Season record: Kangaroos 15 and 2 (1st, +430)
Sharks 10 and 6 (4th, -24)
Form: Kangaroos LWWWL
Sharks WWLLW
Attacking record: Kangaroos 37, Sharks 21 points scored per match
Defensive record: Kangaroos 12, Sharks 23 points conceded per match
Last meetings: 2023 Round 17 Kangaroos 44 defeated Sharks 8 at Freebody Oval
2023 Round 6 Kangaroos 46 defeated Sharks 6 at NSWRL HQ, Bruce
2022 Round 11 Kangaroos 31 defeated Sharks 24 at Freebody Oval
2022 Round 2 Sharks 26 defeated Kangaroos 10 at NSWRL HQ, Bruce
Watch for our coverage on @TheGHRaiders on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, while we also provide live scores on Twitter via @CanberraCup.
Preliminary Final
Sunday 10 September
Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Belconnen Sharks, Raiders Belconnen, 3:20pm
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Team lists: Click here.
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