The Queanbeyan Whites have suffered an emotional John I Dent Cup grand final loss to the Tuggeranong Vikings on Saturday, going down 25-13 to the defending premiers and finishing as 2014 runners-up.
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And after all the hard work put in to the season, and coming off a major semi-final win over the Vikings, it was a tough scenario to take for the Queanbeyan men.
Tuggeranong claimed their fourth straight premiership and continued a John I Dent Cup dynasty that does not look like ending any time soon.
The Whites will go into next season expected to make the grand final again though, having made the finals now for the last six seasons, and will carry plenty of confidence knowing such a young squad now has grand final experience.
It was the Vikings that called the first half their own, scoring two tries as Queanbeyan struggled for any decent territory.
A double to Vikings winger Nigel Ah Wong helped the home side compile a 17-6 lead at half time, but skipper Gareth Clouston went down with ann injury right on half time.
Touted as the Whites 'secret strike weapon' before the game, ACT Brumbies star and homegrown son Robbie Coleman started solidly, but showed a limp or two towards the end of the first half.
The Whites had a golden opportunity five minutes from half time to score their first try, but instead opted to kick for a penalty goal in front of the uprights.
But goal kicker HP Momsen missed the crucial kick, and that could have hindered his side's chances in getting back into the contest.
However the Whites came out with different intentions in the second stanza, and their forwards lifted in defence to apply the sort of pressure coach Adam Fahey had been asking them to do in recent weeks.
While another penalty goal attempt went astray off Momsen's boot, Coleman seemed to have shaken off his limps, as he darted through the Vikings' line from close range to score his side's first try.
With the score at 17-13, the Whites were well and truly back in the match.
They maintained momentum for the next ten minutes, and the Vikings still struggled to find answers to the pressure being applied to them, but being the competition's greatest force does not come for nothing.
They stayed composed, and out of nowhere, Nigel Ah Wong crossed for his third try, which was undoubtedly the most important hat-trick of his career.
This extended the lead further to 22-13, and with 19 minutes to go, was going to be a hard margin for the Whites to reel in.
The Queanbeyan men did not give up though, kicking well in play and creating some territory, but it was not to be on the day.