Canberra Raiders Cup: Preliminary Finals Preview
It's all on the line at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, as teams in the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup and Katrina Fanning Shield battle for a spot in the Grand Final across all five grades in preliminary action.
Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup League Tag
Gungahlin Bulls vs West Belconnen Warriors, 9:30am, Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
Gungahlin Enclosed will be filled with excitement to host the preliminary final between the Gungahlin Bulls and West Belconnen Warriors on Sunday morning.
Last week, the Bulls fell short 14-12 to the Grand Final-bound Woden Valley Rams in a hard-fought battle at Seears Workwear Oval.
Despite the loss, Lily Quigley was a standout player, scoring eight of their 12 points on the day.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are fresh off a six-nil victory against the Goulburn City Bulldogs in the minor semi-final, which saw Zoe Callaway cross to score their only try of the day.
The Warriors showcased their strong defence, leaving the Bulldogs scoreless for the full 80 minutes.
The last time these teams met in round 13, the Bulls secured a narrow four-point win.
Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup Under 19's
Queanbeyan Blues vs Woden Valley Rams, 10:40am, Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
Sunday's preliminary final fixtures will continue as the Under 19’s features an exciting matchup between the Queanbeyan Blues and the Woden Valley Rams.
The Blues are coming off a tough 34-12 defeat to the Bulldogs in the major semi-final last Sunday and will be desperate to prove themselves this weekend.
On the other hand, the Rams will be riding high on confidence after securing a 22-6 win against the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Greenway Oval.
Rams’ winger Jayden Norgrove was crucial in leading his side to victory, crossing for a try-scoring double.
The last matchup between these sides was in round 14, where the Rams claimed a 19-12 victory over the Blues.
The season for both sides comes down to securing a win on Sunday morning, with the winner progressing to the Grand Final next week against Goulburn.
Blumers Lawyers Katrina Fanning Shield
Queanbeyan Blues vs Gungahlin Bulls, 12:00pm, Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
The Gungahlin Bulls will play on familiar turf, taking on the Queanbeyan Blues in the KFS preliminary final at midday.
Fresh off a tough 24-8 loss to the minor premiers, the Yass Magpies, in last weeks’ major semi-final, the Blues will be looking to bounce back in a big way when they face the Bulls.
Meanwhile, Gungahlin are coming into the clash after securing a buzzer-beating 22-18 win over the Rams last Saturday.
These teams have a win each against each other this year, with the Blues claiming a 32-14 victory in round 10, then the Bulls returned serve in the round one replay, defeating the Blues 30-12.
Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade
West Belconnen Warriors vs Gungahlin Bulls, 1:20pm, Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
The Gungahlin Bulls will have the home ground advantage this Sunday, as they welcome the West Belconnen Warriors in the Reserve Grade preliminary clash.
Last week, the minor premiership Warriors suffered a disappointing 24-nil loss to the Woden Valley Rams, in the Grand Final qualifier at Seears Workwear Oval.
There’s no doubt the Warriors will be desperate to redeem themselves this weekend and advance into the big dance.
On the other hand, Gungahlin will be looking to carry over their winning momentum after claiming a commanding 26-4 victory against the Yass Magpies last Saturday.
Fullback Travis Vawdon played a massive role in the Bulls’ victory, bagging 14 points as he crossed for two tries and converted three.
The last two matchups between these sides have seen high scoring margins, with the Warriors securing a 20-nil win over the Bulls in round 13, and the Bulls claiming a dominant 52-10 victory over the Warriors in round four.
Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup First Grade
Queanbeyan Blues vs Woden Valley Rams, 3:00pm, Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
The 2024 Canberra Raiders Cup First Grade preliminary final sees an exciting showdown between the Queanbeyan Blues and the Woden Valley Rams.
The Rams fought tooth and nail to secure a narrow two-point victory over the Belconnen United Sharks, keeping their season hopes alive.
Demonstrating plenty of grit, they'll aim to carry that momentum into Sunday's crucial matchup.
The Blues are coming off a hard-fought 22-14 loss in the major semi-final last Sunday in a Queanbeyan derby against the Kangaroos at Seears Workwear Oval.
Despite the loss, the Blues put in a solid effort, which saw Connor Williams cross the line for a double and convert a try.
The two times these sides have met this year, the Rams have been too good, securing the win on both occasions.
Both teams will deliver an all-or-nothing performance, as the winner advances to the Grand Final against the Kangaroos, while the loser will be left wondering.
