Gungahlin Bulls (4) 20 defeated Woden Valley Rams (3) 12
Gungahlin picked up their second straight win of season 2016, beating Woden 20-12 to hand the Rams their first loss of the year.
Ill-discipline and poor ball control from the Rams allowed the in-form Bulls to shoot out to a 14-0 lead inside fifteen minutes, before Woden began to work themselves back into the contest.
Trailing by eight points with twenty minutes remaining, the Rams struggled to capitalise on the opportunities presented to them in attack, allowing the hosts to hang on to the lead.
With the Bulls looking to put the game to bed, some desperate goal-line defence kept the visitors in the contest, but ultimately Gungahlin’s dominant start proved the difference.
Woden will look to get themselves back in the winners circle in a highly-anticipated clash with West Belconnen this weekend.
Gungahlin Bulls 20 (D Cooper-Shields, T Munokoa, R O'Sullivan, H van Dartel tries ; J Scholes 2 goals) defeated Woden Valley Rams 12 (M Geiger, C McGhie tries; G Pohahua 2 goals)
Yass Magpies (5) 26 defeated Goulburn Workers Bulldogs (7) 24
Yass celebrated their first win since returning to the competition in front of their home fans, knocking over Goulburn in thrilling fashion with a try on the siren.
After competing in the last two grand finals, Goulburn have endured a tough start to 2016, heading into Round Four with just one win under their belt.
Yass opened the scoring through Josh Hall in the early going, before Goulburn struck back to take a 6-4 lead.
The two sides continued to trade the lead heading into the halftime break, where Yass held a slender 16-12 advantage.
A dominant start to the second half saw Goulburn take a 24-16 lead with just over five minutes remaining, before Ketia-Opo snatched a try to bring the hosts within two points.
As the siren sounded, Yass sent the ball wide for a sensational match-winning try to Gavenlock in the corner as the hosts opened their account for 2016.
Yass Magpies 26 (S Ketia-Opo 2, J Hall, J Smith, T Gavenlock tries; C Rawlinson 3 goals) defeated Goulburn Workers Bulldogs 24 (M Worboys 2, M Berthelot, P Cooke tries; B Picker 3, C Hart goals)
Queanbeyan Blues (1) 34 defeated Tuggeranong Bushrangers (9) 24
Simon Woolford’s Blues have continued their perfect start to 2016 as they go in search of a three-peat, beating Tuggeranong 34-24 in a tight affair.
Coming into the clash off the back of a dominant display against arch-rivals the Kangaroos, the Blues were challenged by a winless Bushrangers outfit at Greenway Oval.
Tuggeranong junior Jamal Nchouki got one over his former club, scoring his first four-pointer of the season, while centre Tyler Stevens returned to his devastating best as he crossed for two tries.
The Bushrangers will now go in search of their first win this weekend against a Yass line-up brimming with confidence after they picked up their first points of the season on Saturday.
Queanbeyan Blues 34 (T Stevens 2, N Lawrence, J Nchouki, J Ulrick, J Wheeler tries; E Malu 5 goals) defeated Tuggeranong Bushrangers 24 (B Henson 2, B Solomon, J Pouono tries; J Russell 3, Z Mitchell goals)
Queanbeyan Kangaroos (6) 40 defeated West Belconnen Warriors (2) 32
The Kangaroos bounced back from a lacklustre derby loss last weekend with a 40-32 win over the unbeaten Warriors on Sunday.
Rated by many as a premiership contender, the visitors still have plenty of room for improvement having conceded 88 points in two matches.
West Belconnen coach Troy Thompson was disappointed with his side’s effort in defence, having conceded just 24 points in the opening two rounds before Aaron Gorrell’s Roos outfit crossed for seven tries on Sunday.
West Belconnen prop Dan Killick-Moran could be facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines after sustaining a bicep injury, a loss that will test the side’s depth after losing front-rower Mark Appleton in Round One.
Queanbeyan Kangaroos 40 (J Ayers, S Meke, J Miller, R O’Sullivan, A Pearce, J Pearce, J Simbiken tries; B Crisp 6 goals) defeated West Belconnen Warriors 32 (C Scott 2, T Aroha-Tuinauvai, A Greenwood, R McQueen, M Shaw tries; R Roberts 4 goals)
