Wayne Southwell racked his brain with every step he made towards the change rooms at Nicholls Enclosed Oval.
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When he finally made it in, the Canberra Royals coach had nothing. Not a word.
![Royals celebrate after scoring a try. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos Royals celebrate after scoring a try. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75lnay6w8r6if05p7ii.jpg/r994_442_4058_2282_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It was one of those halftime speeches where you go 'I don't know what to say'," Southwell laughed.
For 40 minutes his side had withstood almost everything thrown at them by an unbeaten Gungahlin Eagles outfit looking to cap off another blackout - wins in every grade - during their heritage round.
They were nearly perfect en route to a 14-point lead. But Southwell knew they would need to do it for 40 more because the Eagles would keep coming.
Whatever the words he managed, they were enough to see Royals secure a thrilling 37-32 victory over the Gungahlin Eagles on Saturday.
Royals now sit alone at the top of the John I Dent Cup table as the only unbeaten team after nine rounds having fought their way through a game of the year contender.
![Pedro Rolando scores one of his three tries. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos Pedro Rolando scores one of his three tries. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75lnc99zgmf19fff17ii.jpg/r0_221_4327_2663_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"I'm over the moon with the whole attitude. For the past two weeks it has just been spot on, and where we want it to be," Southwell said.
"Our first half performance in attack was exactly where we needed to be, and that was on the back of that dominant scrum.
"Our back-row was exceptional. Luke [Kimber], Rory [Scott] and Max [Singh], they certainly put some pressure on them. Their carries were fantastic, they got their heads through a few times.
"Our tight five gave it too at the set piece. Our forward pack set the foundation nicely.
"To their credit, [Gungahlin] came back hard in that second half. It's going to be a long, hard season, there's no doubt about that. There's no easy road this year."
![Matt Hawke and the Eagles rallied but fell short. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos Matt Hawke and the Eagles rallied but fell short. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75lncoh2sg972tul7ii.jpg/r0_512_5011_3340_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Royals walked into the half-time break with a 29-15 advantage - one built on the back of their scrum and the class of scrumhalf and hat-trick hero Pedro Rolando.
But with a long list of club legends and supporters gathered around the sideline, the Eagles would not have to look far for inspiration to turn things around in the second stanza.
The scrummaging tide turned. Mack Hansen threatened every time he got his hands on the ball. Corey Toole crossed for a belter of a try soon bettered by the effort of Matt Hawke. Royals prop Sione Mau saw yellow in the dying stages.
The game had a pulse.
But the miracle for the men in black wasn't to be. Rolando scored his third before crucial mistakes and missed opportunities in the closing moments ultimately sounded the death knell.
![Eagles back Jackson Duffey. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos Eagles back Jackson Duffey. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75lncitk09fk0twx7ii.jpg/r0_408_5568_3551_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"The effort was there, guys were willing, we probably just didn't build enough pressure," Eagles coach Marco Caputo said.
"We're disappointed because we weren't able to get the victory on such a big occasion for us. Looking back, we didn't get that first 40 minutes right.
"We managed to get that [scrum] right and finish on top there, but the first 40 minutes, we need to manage that better than we did and not wait until half time to solve it.
"It was a decent game of footy between two teams that will probably be there at the end, along with Tuggeranong I'd say."
AT A GLANCE
John I Dent Cup round nine: CANBERRA ROYALS 37 (P Rolando 3, S Going, N Jervis Hamilton tries; P Rolando 3 cons; P Rolando 2 pens) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 32 (C Toole 3, J Kotz, M Hawke tries; M Hansen 2 cons; M Hansen pen) at Nicholls Enclosed Oval
QUEANBEYAN WHITES 34 bt EASTS 26 at Griffith Oval
TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 49 bt WESTS 21 at Viking Park