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Yass Magpies coach Steve Naughton. Photo: Jamila Toderas
After two big losses to start the season, the Belconnen United Sharks are starting to absorb some of the grit that characterised their coach's NRL career.
They still lost, but Sharks coach Scott Logan was much happier with the fight shown in their 26-22 loss to the Woden Valley Rams at O'Connor on Saturday.
It looked like the Rams were going to run away with it after second-rower Michael Gilmour scored the opening two tries of the game, but the Sharks fought back into the game and pushed the visitors to the end.
Meanwhile, Yass co-coach Steve Naughton finally returned to the field after a five-year battle with firstly osteitis pubis and then a crippling back condition.
And he returned with a win - the Magpies beating reigning premiers West Belconnen 18-14, while the Queanbeyan Blues beat Goulburn 44-18 and the Queanbeyan Roos knocked off Gungahlin 32-8.
AT A GLANCE
Woden Valley Rams 26 (Michael Gilmour 2, Michael Geiger, Carl Johnson, Joshua Pheeney tries; Johnson 3 goals) bt Belconnen United Sharks 22 (Kitione Vikash 2, Jordan Mecham-Crane, Damian Denny tries; Darcy Eason 3 goals); Queanbeyan Blues 44 (T Stevens 3, T Campese, F Fainifo, A McInnes, B Taueki, J Wheeler tries; T Campese 6 goals) bt Goulburn Workers Bulldogs 18 (N Cornish, D Stephens, B Arnall, B Hewitt tries; B Hewitt goal); Yass Magpies 18 (Steve Naughton 2, S Sotogi tries; S Davis goal) bt West Belconnen Warriors 14 (R McQueen, C Greenwood, T Sloman tries; R Roberts goal); Queanbeyan Kangaroos 32 (D Reid 2, Connolly, Pearce, A Gorrell, Whiley tries; B Crisp 4 goals) bt Gungahlin Bulls 8 (D Low, B Wood tries).
RUGBY UNION
Connor O'Byrne suffered a serious injury against Easts. Photo: Jeffrey Chan
The Tuggeranong Vikings have stamped themselves as favourites for another John I Dent Cup title after thrashing Queanbeyan in a grand final re-match.
The Vikings scored six tries in the second half to cruise to an easy 59-15 win at Viking Park.
In other matches, the clash between Easts and Gungahlin had to be moved to a different field after a serious injury just 15 minutes into the first-grade match.
Lock Connor O'Byrne suffered a suspected broken femur and the game had to be stopped and shifted to Griffith Oval No. 2.
Gungahlin managed to run away as comfortable winners 45-0 after the disruption.
AT A GLANCE
John I Dent Cup: Tuggeranong Vikings 59 bt Queanbeyan Whites 15, Wests 37 bt Uni-Norths Owls 34, Gungahlin Eagles 45 bt Easts 0.
Second grade: Queanbeyan Whites 36 bt Tuggeranong Vikings 14, Gungahlin eagles 40 bt Easts 15, Uni-Norths Owls 30 bt Wests 10
Colts: Tuggeranong Vikings 34 bt Queanbeyan Whites 14, Gungahlin Eagles 33 bt Easts 7, Uni-Norths Owls 29 bt Wests 24.
SOCCER
Sport. Men's Premier League soccer at Deakin Stadium. Canberra FC (red top) versus Belconnen United (blue top). Matt Grbesa, left and Domenic Giampaolo. Photo: Graham Tidy
The FFA Centre of Excellence sent a clear message to the FFA board with a first half attacking masterclass to thrash Monaro Panthers 5-0 at the AIS on Saturday.
The Panthers were no match for the red-hot academy side who broke inside the box at will in the opening 45 minutes through strikers Mirza Muratovic and Charlie Mavros Jnr.
Monaro showed some fight in the second half and kept the complacent FFA side to a scoreless draw but the damage had well and truly been done.
Woden Weston drew with the Riverina Rhinos 2-2, while Canberra FC defeated Belconnen United 4-2 thanks to braces from Dom Giampaolo and Tom James.
AT A GLANCE
Saturday: FFA Centre of Excellence 5 (Muratovic Jnr 6', Bafford 11', Mavros Jnr 20' 34', Trewin 40') bt Monaro Panthers 0; Woden Weston 2 drew Riverina Rhinos 2
AUSTRALIAN RULES
Chris York made a dominant start to this year's AFL Canberra season. Photo: Graham Tidy
Belconnen Magpies ace goalkicker Chris York has made an unforgettable return to brush off the pain of missing his side's AFL Canberra finals run last year.
York booted 10 goals as Belconnen started "like a bull out of a gate" to thrash the Tuggeranong Hawks by 187 points at The Nest at Kippax Oval on Saturday.
While the Magpies ran out 187-point victors, theirs wasn't even the biggest win of the day.
AT A GLANCE
AFL Canberra round one: BELCONNEN MAGPIES 10.2 18.6 27.12 37.19 (241) bt TUGGERANONG HAWKS 2.0 6.1 7.1 8.6 (54), EASTLAKE DEMONS 12.3 23.9 37.16 37.16 (238) bt GUNGAHLIN JETS 0.1 0.2 2.5 2.7 (19)
NEAFL round four: CANBERRA DEMONS 0.3 3.8 5.8 7.9 (51) bt SOUTHPORT SHARKS 5.5 9.8 12.13 15.17 (107)
