Roos secure back-to-back titles
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos have successfully defended their Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup title in a tight 18-10 win against the Queanbeyan Blues on a picturesque day at Seiffert Oval.
In a fiery addition of the Queanbeyan derby, everything was at stake with the minor premiers able to hold their nerve when it mattered and return to the top of the Canberra Region Rugby League mountain.
In a cagey opening to the contest both sides were unable to execute respective chances as they looked to promote the football in the opening ten minutes.
After Connor Williams was denied at one end, it was his name sake, Sam Williams who crossed for the first try in the 2024 decider, with a shift to the left hand side of the field giving the ball to Kiely in space, before finding his captain on the inside who scored under the sticks.
Neither side were able to convert solid field position into points on the scoreboard, with the final pass letting the defending side of the hook on multiple occasions.
In a back and forth arm wrestle, neither side was looking to blink, until an error from the Kangaroos was scooped up by Connor Williams who travelled thirty metres to score, George Morseu adding the extras from right in front.
Although struggling with the ball in hand, both Queanbeyan outfits were attacking with their defence, with the physicality on display for all who made their way to Seiffert Oval.
After Jack Sandford attacked a chip and chase attempt from Dylan Mclahlan in the final minute of the first, the Kangaroos were awarded a penalty directly in front which they elected to take the two and head into the break with a slim advantage.
An error and penalty in the first five minutes of the second half from the Blues handed field position to their rivals, which they took advantage of through Lachlan Bristow showing incredible leg drive to break multiple tackles and cross for the Kangaroos second of the afternoon.
Similarly, to the first half both sides tried to settle into the arm wrestle, however the enormity of the occasion was causing uncharacteristic errors from the competition's best two teams.
The back and forth nature of the season between the Blues and Kangaroos continued, with a McLachlan banana kick unable to be defused and Jake Anderson judging the bouncing ball the best for the Blues to score his third of the finals series and reduce the margin to two.
With ten minutes remaining and the next try crucial in the outcome of the 2024 Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup grand final, Lucas Thomas was given early ball twenty metres out and fended off three would-be tacklers on his way to extend the Kangaroos lead to eight.
The Blues threw all they had in the final moments of the contest, however the defence of the Kangaroos proved too strong, being crowned premiers in season 2024 and claiming their ninth title in the process.
