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Rugby final you'll love to watch

29/08/2008 12:33:00 PM
Queanbeyan Whites captain Josh Hastings is confident his team's lack of game time will have no effect on its bid to win back-to-back John I Dent Cups at Viking Park tomorrow.

The Whites will attempt to be crowned ACT rugby's premier team for the second year running when they take on an Easts outfit desperate to claim the club's first premiership since 1947.

And despite having played just one game in the past three weeks, Hastings said the Whites were primed to roll Easts for the third time this season.

''We've had pretty hard training sessions on the Saturdays we had off and we got pretty physical with each other,'' Hastings said.

''We shed some blood and stuff like that so we're pretty right with where we're at.

''It will be a very physical game and probably a very fast game as well.

''With the new rules it is obviously a lot faster and we're excited about a fast game.

''They like to throw the ball around a bit, as do we.''

Easts is desperate to turn its 17-12 semi-final loss to the Whites around and break its premiership drought. The tri-colours won through to the decider with a 36-30 victory over Royals last week and coach John Osbourne said his team's tough run to the grand final would be a bonus.

''It's a very long time [between premierships] so it's very exciting and it's great for our club,'' Osbourne said.

''The last few years we've struggled a fair bit and the boys have worked so hard this year and it's really good for them.

''We've been on a knife edge for about six weeks now.

''The competition leading into the semi-finals was very close.

''The boys haven't changed much this month or this week leading into it, it's business as usual.''

Easts captain Jack Vanderglas said his team had learnt from its loss to the Whites two weeks ago and had upped its training intensity since then.

He predicted the recent loss would steel his team's resolve in the season decider.

''Coming off the loss I think helps us build a bit harder,'' Vanderglas said.

''If they'd come off a loss in that first final I'm sure they would have come back harder and stronger as well. We've had harder training and we've got to rise again.''

Current Super 14 referee Brett Bowden will be in charge of the game.

Bowden said the grand finalists were very evenly matched, making for an exciting spectacle.

''The way the season has gone is that any of the seven teams could have made the finals series,'' Bowden said.

''I think what the new laws have provided this year is a dynamic game.

''In the grand final this year it's not surprising that you've probably got two of the most dynamic teams that are in the competition.''

Both Hastings and Vanderglas have a brother playing alongside them tomorrow.

Adam Hastings will start at prop for Queanbeyan, while Vanderglas and his brother Henry are the starting flankers for Easts.

Vanderglas said playing alongside Henry made the grand final even more special.

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Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Go Easts! 70 years is a long time ...
Posted by viggo on 29/08/2008 12:35:00 PM
Thank God the ACTRU didn't ruin any chance of a good game by appointing Sarah Corrigan to referee it!
Posted by Fan on 29/08/2008 12:58:25 PM
"70 years is a long time" very insightful ... The Tourist will be full of silverware come Saturday night, 2620 for life
Posted by Rodney Uppercut on 29/08/2008 1:06:20 PM
2620? Tharwa?
Posted by TheFlyingScotsman on 29/08/2008 4:01:03 PM

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CUP CONTEST: Easts captain Jack Vanderglas and Queanbeyan skipper Josh Hastings get a look at the silverware they will compete for tomorrow. PHOTO: Marina Neil
CUP CONTEST: Easts captain Jack Vanderglas and Queanbeyan skipper Josh Hastings get a look at the silverware they will compete for tomorrow. PHOTO: Marina Neil

1/12/2008 | A government budget going into deficit as an economy heads towards a recession should evoke no more than a yawn.
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