The Queanbeyan Whites colts side gave fallen short of defending their 2013 ACT Rugby Union premiership, going down to the Tuggeranong Vikings 15-13 at Viking Park on Saturday.
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It was the Whites that had the better start to the match, going up 8-0 after 10 minutes courtesy of a try to winger Riley Ahern, but the Vikings looked the better team from there on.
Queanbeyan had beaten the minor premiers 17-15 in an extremely tight affair a fortnight ago to win straight through to the grand final, but their defence was flimsy at times, and the Vikings halves and backs were able to exploit that.
The most crucial moment in the match came right on half time, after the Vikings had scored their first try to reduce the margin to an 8-7 Queanbeyan lead.
With their backs against the walls in their own 22 metre zone, Vikings fullback Jack Reid bombed the ball about 40 metres down field.
Remarkably, the kick was collected on the run by winger Jack Worman, and he stepped three Whites defenders to race away and score what proved to be the match-winning try.
The Vikings dominated possession in the second half, and came close to scoring again numerous times, but Queanbeyan's goal line defence held strong.
Ultimately though, the Whites did not have enough field position of possession to come back in the game, and their season ended on a negative note.
Whites winger Jordan Read scored a late try in the corner, and with six minutes to go gave his side a chance of a late comeback, but a missed conversion ended that hope.
But despite failing to defend their 2013 title, they still finished with more wins then any other Queanbeyan Whites grade this season, with 11 from 12, and this statistic will stand out for the club in the 2015 season.
