Vikings to host Melbourne in Rugby Shield Final

The Canberra Vikings will host Melbourne in the Final of the Australian Rugby Shield in Canberra next Saturday after both teams advanced through the Semi Finals yesterday.

The Vikings needed a try in extra time to defeat Perth Gold 27-20 while Melbourne has made their first ever Australian Rugby Shield Final with a 19-16 upset win over NSW Country.

Full match reports are below.

Vikings beat Gold in extra time thriller

The Canberra Vikings won a thriller at Viking Park, requiring a try in the second-last minute of extra time to defeat a determined Perth Gold outfit.

The Vikings, made up of players from the ACT and Southern NSW region and playing in the Australian Rugby Shield for the first year, enjoyed the home ground advantage having topped Pool A.

However it was Perth who struck first when flanker Blair Morris scored to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. The Vikings hit back when No 8 Peter Kimlin, who had an outstanding game, scored to make it 7-7 at half time.

Perth took the lead again with a penalty goal and when No 8 Will Brock scored, they were ahead 17-7 and looking strong.

Both teams had opportunities in the second half but resolute defence limited scoring to penalty goals, with the home side pegging the score back to 20-13 through the boot of winger Ben Johnson.

Four minutes before full time, Vikings replacement scrumhalf Mark Hughes scampered over for a try with Johnson’s pressure conversion locking it up at 20-20.

The two teams went hammer and tong in extra time but could not crack each other’s defence. However with two minutes of additional time left on the clock, Viking’s centre Tim Cornforth crossed to seal the game and a home Final.

Canberra Vikings 27 (Peter Kimlin, Mark Hughes Tim Cornforth tries; Ben Johnson 3 cons, 2 pens) defeated Perth Gold 20 (Blair Morris, Will Brock tries; Ryan Lenegan 2 cons, pen; Charles Norcross pen). Half time: 7-all.

Axemen defeat Country Cockatoos

Extra time was nearly required at Harlequin Rugby Park in Ashwood, with NSW Country centre Josh Clift missing a penalty attempt in the dying minutes of the game that would have locked the scores at 19-19.

However Melbourne held on to celebrate a 19-16 win and their first ever Australian Rugby Shield Final.

It was a remarkable comeback win for the Axemen who weren’t in the game in the opening stanza. NSW Country camped in Melbourne’s half for 30 minutes and came away with a try to flanker Ross Duncan and three penalties to Clift to give them a 16-0 lead.

Melbourne winger Michael Thompson got them on the board late in the first half with two penalty goals, going into the break 16-6 down.

The Victorian forwards were more effective in the second half and with two more penalty goals, they were trailing by just four points at 16-12.

Time was running out for the home team but with five minutes to play Victorian flyhalf Andrew Castleman cut through the defence from 15 metres out to score 10 metres away from the posts. Thompson’s conversions made it 19-16, and when Clift missed the opportunity to draw level, Melbourne were through to their first ever Final.

Melbourne Axemen 19 (Andrew Castleman try; Michael Thompson 4 pens, con) defeated NSW Country Cockatoos 16 (Ross Duncan try; Josh Clift 3 pens, con). Half time: NSW Country 16-6.

Australian Rugby Shield Final

Canberra Vikings vs Melbourne Axemen
Saturday, June 3
Viking Park, Canberra - 5:00pm kick off to be confirmed.

Related Article:

Round Three - Vikings unbeaten, play Gold in Shield Semi Final (Mon May 22)