Welcome to our live blog for Preliminary Finals Day of the ACT Premier Rugby Finals Series at Viking Park!
The two main fixtures see the Uni-Norths-Owls take on Tuggeranong ViQueens in the Premier 15s preliminary final (kick-off 2pm), with a repeat of last year's John I Dent Cup Final in the men's equivalent - Canberra Royals facing off against old rivals Tuggeranong Vikings (kick-off 4pm).
Results so far today:
- Premier 15s: Uni-Norths Owls 25 - 17 Tuggeranong ViQueens
- Premier 3rd Grade: Queanbeyan Whites 17 -35 Wests Lions
- Spence Cup: Canberra Royals 19 - 15 Uni-Norths Owls
- ACT Vets Colts Cup: Tuggeranong Vikings 19 - 40 Gungahlin Eagles
- Premier 4th Grade First Division: Canberra Royals 26 - 21 Uni-Norths Owls
Up next is the John I Dent Cup Preliminary Final between Canberra Royals and the Tuggeranong Vikings.
Full-time: Vikings 39 - Royals 29
80' VIKINGS WIN! The siren sounds and Vikings kick the ball into touch, confirming their sport in the 2025 John I Dent Grand Final.
79' Royals centre, Jarrah McLeod, makes an incredible break and runs from the try all the way to half-way but is stopped by an ankle tap, and loses the ball forward.
76' YELLOW CARD! Royals fullback, Andy Muirhead, gets sent off for a high tackle. Vikings kick to the corner for another lineout five meters out.
75' Royals experience more handing errors and give Vikings a scrum thirty meters out from their try line.
71' TRY VIKINGS! Lington Leli scores off the back of a driving mall. Louis Bartley-Saena converts again and distances Vikings lead to 39 - 29.
67' TRY ROYALS! Liam Clews bashes over the line with a strong pick and drive. Chace Oates converts and sets the score at 32 - 29, Vikings still in the lead.
66' Royals pull some shape back together and work their way up the field. They are awarded a penalty on their 22 and kick to the corner.
63' PENALTY VIKINGS! Vikings turn their penalty into points, furthering their lead to 32 - 22.
62' Momentum seems to be in Vikings favour currently. They earn themselves another penalty just outside of their attacking 22.
58' TRY VIKINGS! Vikings halfback, Atora Hondo, scores an exception intercept try off the back of Royals lineout. Louis Bartley-Saena converts the kick and puts vikings in the lead 29 - 22.
57' Both backlines once again show their talent making break after break, but it is the boot of Oscar Shaw, Vikings five-eight, that puts the ball into touch on the halfway line. Royals with a lineout to come.
51' Vikings show Royals the strength of their defence, but unfortunately hand over a penalty in the process. Royals kick to the sideline and have a lineout about fifteen meters out.
47' TRY VIKINGS! Rhys Griffiths scores off a great pick and drive just to the right of the posts. Louis Bartley-Saena converts and sets the score at 22 all.
46' Vikings have had most of the possession so far in this opening five minutes. They kick to the corner after receiving a penalty. Vikings lineout to come, five meters out.
41' The second half is underway with a restart from Royals. Their winger contests for the ball, but unfortunately loses it forward in the process. Vikings scrum within their half.
Half-time: Royals 22 - Vikings 15
40' Vikings kick a 50/22 just after the siren goes for half-time, denies them of their earned lineout throw. Royals run into the sheds at half-time with a seven point lead.
39' Royals lose another lineout, knocking the ball on and handing Vikings a scrum.
38' Vikings punch the ball up in phases, but the Royals defence appears to be too strong.
35' Royals winger, Viliami Sipa, is unfortunately carried off with an injury after some big collisions. This is a huge loss for Royals as he has been exceptional for them today.
32' Royals lose their lineout right on the halfway and Vikings' backs make use of the ball along the righthand side of the field.
31' Both teams have their share of some exciting moments. The game so far seems to be entirely lead off the back of some great backline moves and cover defence.
27' PENALTY VIKINGS! Vikings make use of this penalty and convert it into an extra 3 points. Royals still lead 22 - 15.
26' Vikings make their way back up the field and earn themselves a penalty twenty meters out from their try line, right in front of the posts.
23' TRY ROYALS! Jarrah McLeod finds his way through another gap and earns himself another fiver pointer. Chace Oates converts and takes their lead to 22-12.
22' After two dominant scrums from Royals within their defending 22, they earn themselves a penalty. They kick to the sideline and look to their forwards to gain some momentum on the halfway line.
18' The Royals backline are putting on an absolute show for everyone at Viking Park, and Royals fans are making sure everyone knows about it!
16' PENALTY ROYALS! Royals make use of the penalty from the knock down, and convert the ball over to take the lead. Royals 15 - Vikings 12.
15' YELLOW CARD VIKINGS! After some exciting rugby from Royals, Vikings forward, Justin Sikimeti, is sent off for an intentional knockdown.
11' TRY ROYALS! Royals answer back yet again and put Jarrah Mcleod across the try line. Kick is this time converted off the boot of Chace Oates. The score is tied 12 all.
10' Royals regain possession off their restart and begin charging up the field.
9' TRY VIKINGS! Vikings make a break off their scrum and eventually put Fullback, Louis Bartley-Saena, over for an extra five points. The score sits at 12 - 5 Vikings way, after the kick was unsuccessful.
7' Royals play a beautiful move from right to left gaining themselves some territory, but a knock on from Darcy Fogarty hands the ball back to Vikings. Scrum to come.
3' TRY ROYALS! Royals are quick to hit back with a try in the right corner from winger Viliami Sipa. Kick was unsuccessful. Vikings still lead 7 - 5.
1' TRY VIKINGS! Bailey Buesnel gets the first points of the day after running a great line on his halfback. Kick converted by Louis Bartley-Saena. Vikings lead 7 - 0.
Kick off here at Viking Park for this John I Dent Cup fixture!
The teams are as follows:
Premier 15s live blog:
Full-time: Owls 25 - ViQueens 17
70' The Owls crowd are hooting after their side confirmed they are off to the Grand Final! The final score sitting at 25 - 17.
69' TRY OWLS! They secure their Grand Final spot as Molly White scores in the left corner after multiple phases. Another unsuccessful conversion, but still enough to settle the score here at Viking Park.
66' Owls land themselves a penalty after another unstoppable scrum. They kick to the sideline.
65' Owls play a great move from right to left but unfortunately lose the ball forward. The crowds from both teams are on the edge of their seats, as a scrum is backed on the halfway.
63' TRY! Owls receive another penalty five metres out. They spread the ball to the left sideline and put centre, Ellie Brislane, in the corner to move ahead! Conversion unsuccessful. The score 20 - 17, Owls way.
62' Owls get the ball and make their way down the field, earning themselves a penalty inside the 22. They kick to the corner and look to back their lineout five metres out.
57' TRY!! Another one for the home side! It's a break down the right-hand side for ViQueens sees Olivia Faitua put her team in the lead. The score 17 - 15, ViQueens way.
54' TRY! For ViQueens after another busting drive from Antoinette Eli making the score 12 - 15. The kick unfortunately not converted, but this is anyone's game to win!
53' Momentum seems to be shifting here at Viking Park with another penalty to ViQueens.
51' ViQueen's crowd goes off as their side hit back with a short-arm at scrum time.
49' Owls knock the ball on at the restart and give ViQueens a scrum just outside the 22.
47' Penalty! A completely dominant scrum from Owls lead them to another penalty 15m out. They look for points off the boot of Madeleine Gogala, and it pays off. Owls still in the lead, 15-7.
46' The momentum seems to be swinging Owls way currently. They receive a penalty 40m out and kick to the sideline.
43' The Owls crowd are having a ball watching their side put hit after hit on ViQueens players, but ViQueens have not shied away from this game at all.
39' A huge run from ViQueens sees them bump their way up to the 22. They then play a beautiful back line play that unfortunately leads to a miss-handling. Owls with a scrum to come.
37' ViQueens fullback, Siena Edwards, makes an exciting break down the righthand side of the field, but is no match for the Owls defence.
36' The second half is underway! ViQueens come out firing and regain possession of their kick restart.
Half-time: Owls 12- 7 ViQueens
35' Owls kick the ball into touch for half time here at Viking Park. Owls lead 12 - 7.
33' Sophie Tuilagi makes a great run down the left side of the field, making it across the try line, but a try has been denied after the sideline referee's flag went up to say she stepped out.
32' Although a lot of the possession has been with Owls, the ViQueens are fighting hard to force errors.
30' Owls receive a penalty just outside the 22 and look to back their forwards in the corner, but an error in the lineout ends with ViQueens regaining possession.
28' Owls regain possession from the kick restart. Their winger, Holly George, makes a great run down the sideline creating great momentum.
24' Try for ViQueens in the right hand corner, thanks to a powerful run from Antoinette Eli!
23' After another penalty for ViQueens on the 40m line, they kick to the corner off the boot of their 10 and have another lineout within the 22.
18' A strong pick from Crystal Papalii off the back of a scrum takes Owls from the 40 to inside the 22, however an error in the ruck leads to a penalty for the Vikings. They kick for the sideline and have a lineout back at the 40m.
9' They double their advantage, with a lovely move from left to right and Sophie Tuilagi dives over. The conversion is missed so the score is pushed out to 12-0.
3' The Owls take an early lead here with Jane Garraway crashing over from short range! The conversion is added and they take a 7-0 lead.
Kick-off here at Viking Park for this Premier 15s fixture!
See the teams for the Premier 15s encounter in the instagram posts below:
