'I can't believe it': Ashlea Bishop boots Canberra Royals to glory in ACT rugby grand final

But all the Canberra Royals flyhalf could think when she lined up a penalty goal attempt with scores locked in the ACT Women Premier XVs decider was "please get it, don't miss it".

It did, and the final whistle sounded to secure Royals a thrilling 15-12 grand final win over the previously unbeaten Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park on Saturday night.

"Oh my god, I can't believe it," Bishop said.

"I'm so stoked. I was just happy I got it, and then everybody started chasing me. Oh my god, I can't believe it.

MORE JOHN I DENT CUP

"We worked so hard, we've never beaten the Owls, they're such tough competition. Honestly, I can't believe it."

Biosecurity measures designed to combat COVID-19 meant the hill so often filled by a sea of royal blue was empty. The crowd figure was limited to 700 for games on field one.

But fans without a ticket were always going to find a way to watch Royals hunt for a unique premiership double across the men's and women's competitions.

Cars had lined the fence with punters finding any vantage point they could - the roof, the bonnet, ute trays and open boots. Soon after Royals' women's side charged onto the park looking to back up what their men's clubmates had done that afternoon.

But they found themselves on the backfoot early when Siokapesi Palu crashed over to open the scoring for the defending premiers.

Veteran hooker Louise Burrows would strike back soon after for Royals before Rosaline Aumale put Uni-Norths ahead to the tune of 12-7 at the half-time break.

Royals suffered a major blow early in the second half when captain Ainsley Scrivener was slowly helped from the field. A stretcher was rushed onto the park before the star fullback walked off the paddock.

She returned from the change rooms and watched the final stages of the match on crutches, desperate to be in the thick of the action in search of glory.

Scrivener's absence caused a reshuffle in the backline and the new-look Royals backline had a chance to capitalise when Palu was shown a yellow card for a shoulder charge.

Brooke Gilroy would do just that when she scored to level the scores 10 minutes into the second half. That's how it would stay until Bishop had her chance.

"The girls pushed right to the end, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have even been close to that," Bishop said.

"Glad to get the job done."

The thrilling grand final win secured Royals a premiership double after the John I Dent Cup side secured back-to-back titles earlier in the day, capping off a stunning year for the ACT rugby union powerhouse.

AT A GLANCE

ACT Women Premier XVs: CANBERRA ROYALS 15 (Louise Burrows, Brooke Gilroy tries; Ashlea Bishop conversion; Bishop penalty) bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 12 (Siokapesi Palu, Rosaline Aumale tries; Sammie Wood conversion) at Viking Park.