Blues Hold Off Roos Comeback
The first Queanbeyan derby of the 2025 season did not disappoint as the Blues scraped home to give them a huge 28-22 win at Seiffert Oval.
A terrific try-saving tackle from Blues centre Jaimie Kotz gave the Blues an attacking opportunity as they stormed down the field before hooker Blake Murray set up Allan Wratten with a crash play to give Queanbeyan Blues the first try of the game. Kotz converted to give Blues a 6-0 lead.
The Blues continue to wreak havoc on the Roos' defence as a beautiful cut-out pass from first grade debutant Troy Cody sent winger Wairua Jackson in for the Blues' second try of the game. A miss from Kotz gives the Blues a 10-0 lead.
It's all going the Blues way in this first half as the Roo's let Cody's bomb bounce which gifts fullback Connor Williams a present as he scores in front of the post, giving the Blues a healthy 16-0 lead.
After 35 minutes of play, the Roos had a terrific opportunity to score, and they took it with firm hands, as Adam Quinlan dummies and went through the line and with a silky flick pass, he sent Lucas Thompson over for Roos' first try of the game. Thompson converted his try, which puts the Roo’s behind 16-6.
A kick from Sam Williams sat up for Blues winger Tovo Opeti-Finau who offloaded to Connor Williams who stepped past one and offloaded to Jayden Svager and quick hands gave it off to Kotz, who ran down the sideline and bounced off one before passing inside to Connor Williams who went in under the post for an early try of the year contender.
Kotz converts to give the Blues a strong 22-6 lead at halftime.
The Roos came out for the second half with an early error, gifting the Blues an opportunity to pounce in the second half.
A beautiful cut out pass from Blue’s hooker Max Fairleigh to big front rower John Suli who barged his way over for another Blues try under the sticks giving the Blues a 28-6 lead.
The Queanbeyan Roos finally sparked a bit of electricity in attack as hooker Lachlan Ingram scooted out of dummy half and hit second rower Jesse Dent short, as he dented the defence and charged over to give them their second try of the game. The conversion was successful from Thompson, decreasing the deficit to 28-12.
The momentum has changed in the second half as the Blues made too many unforced errors, gifting the Roos with an opportunity close to the line.
A last tackle cross-field kick from Sam Williams spots centre Kain Anderson, who snatched it in the air and landed over the try line. A missed conversion from Thompson closes the deficit to 28-16.
A costly error from the Blues gave the Roos some more possession within the Blues half.
Tired defence in the middle for the Blues allowed Jarred Cook to bounce off three defenders and score under the post to cut the Blues lead by six, making it 28-22.
The Queanbeyan derby is heating up at Seiffert Oval with only a minute on the clock, the Roo’s had an opportunity to draw things up, but a big tackle from James Hicky gave the Blues a huge 28-22 victory in front of the home crowd.
Image by Trish Sullivan
