'There's belief': Gungahlin Eagles' 10-try blitz stuns Canberra Royals in John I Dent Cup

The Eagles have made an emphatic statement on the eve of the John I Dent Cup finals with a 10-try blitz against the Canberra Royals at Phillip Oval on Saturday.

Gungahlin's stunning win secured them a place in the top four and sets up a date with the minor premiership-winning Tuggeranong Vikings in the semi-finals on October 10.

The Vikings secured the minor premiership with a 49-12 win over second-placed Uni-Norths Owls at ANU North Oval. The third-placed Royals now have a week off to pick up the pieces before they fight for a place in the grand final against Uni-Norths.

The Eagles fly into the semi-finals boosted by Brumbies trio Mack Hansen, the fullback who scored a double, as well as scrumhalf Issak Fines and prop Tom Ross. They bolster a side already boasting Matt Giteau and James Dargaville.

MORE RUGBY UNION NEWS

"There's a bit of belief now that we can go up and actually challenge this year," Caputo said.

"I didn't expect to finish the way we did as far as the score goes. I saw some glimpses of the combinations and there were some good signs during the week.

"When the Brumbies boys joined us at training, I saw stuff out there which I knew would put us in good stead.

"The guys who came and played, they were motivated to play, they haven't played much rugby. That's half the battle, they were keen to play, keen to get back.

"Gits during the week was really positive, stepped up. Games that matter, that's when the big players come through."

Gungahlin's bonus point triumph left the Wests Lions' last ditch attempt to force their way into the top four in vain, with a 45-7 victory over the Queanbeyan Whites at Campese Oval bringing down the curtain on their campaign.

Royals have an injury headache to contend with after scrumhalf Pedro Rolando came from the field in the second half, but Caputo expects they will be a much tougher proposition for the Owls in a fortnight.

"They're a class team, they know what winning grand finals is all about," Caputo said.

"They've played in a lot of them and won a lot of them, I think if you get them in a play-off position, they're going to be hard to beat.

"They're a club built on plenty of success, they know how to win the big games. I don't think they'll be too deterred by what happened today."

Meanwhile, St Edmund's College capped off an undefeated season to claim the ACT Junior Rugby Union First XV crown with a 22-19 win over Marist College at Viking Park.

Daramalan College pipped the Wests Lions 31-26 in a thrilling decider to win the ACTJRU under 18 girls premiership.

AT A GLANCE

John I Dent Cup round 10: GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 62 (Corey Toole 2, Mack Hansen 2, Tamati Ioane 2, Matt Giteau, Jamie Kotz, James Dargaville, Isaac Crowe tries; Giteau 4, Hansen, Tom Haddad conversions) bt CANBERRA ROYALS 0 at Phillip Oval.

TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 49 (Michael Oakman-Hunt 2, Isaac Henry 2, Ngarima Low, Seamus Smith, Andrew Robinson tries; Ryan Lonergan 6, Lachlan Lonergan conversions) bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 12 (Brad Pumpa, Jordan Thompson tries; Lucas Thomson conversion) at ANU North Oval.

WESTS LIONS 45 (Matt Logsdon 2, Declan Meredith 2, Tauati Chan Tung, Brodie Leber, Sam Pye-Edwards tries; Meredith 5 conversions) bt QUEANBEYAN WHITES 7 (Fred Kaihea try; conversion not submitted) at Campese Oval.