Uni-Norths Owls have secured their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon after making a spectacular comeback to beat the Queanbeyan Whites 46-40 at ANU North Oval.
The Whites would open their scoring account early in the first half through Samuel Gleeson as just one play after a successful line out, the Whites would shift the ball left before both flankers would combine as Waisea Tudulu would deliver a beautiful offload for Gleeson to cross the line untouched in the 5th minute.
It would only take the home side seven minutes to strike back however as Uni-Norths prop and Brumby Rhys Van Nek would take matters into his own hands after masterfully using a maul to get close to the Whites line. Van Nek would then barge past two remaining Owls Whites defenders for a try bringing the score to 5-7 in the 12th minute.
Continuing the back and forth affair, the Whites would cross next through already heavily involved Tudulu after the 7 received a short ball close to the opposition line and made short work of an attempted one-on-one tackle from Uni-Norths.
Next to cross the white strip was Uni-Norths flanker Molia Feleleai after winding down the Whites goal line defence with heavy possession the forward then managed to get low and under the visitors defence bringing the scores to 15-17 to Queanbeyan in the 34th minute.
Concluding the five-pointers for the first half however would be Queanbeyan as the visiting side would manage to go almost the length of the field through winger Jacob Church collecting the ball on a shift and finding himself in an overlap and then showing his pace to beat Uni-Norths fullback Samuel Toa on his way to the line.
Coming out as underdogs in the second half, the home side were determined to get back into the match which they would manage through two tries in 15 minutes attributed to Joshua Friend and Boston Morete.
Cullin Cooper Jones of the Whites would keep his side in the contest however taking two opportunities for a penalty goal in the 48 and 50th minutes respectively, adding to his one in the first half.
Queanbeyan fullback Nathan Carrol would cross the line in the 60th minute however as the fullback would capitalise on a hard running forward pack before his side would give the 15 a direct path to the try line via a 50 metre dash from the right side of the field bringing the scores to 37-25 to Queanbeyan.
Just five minutes later however the home side would begin their scoreboard chase down as Uni-Norths would prove too strong on a maul following a lineout to cross the line in the 65th minute.
Joshua Friend would just continue to keep his side in the fight in the 77th minute as the lock would dive over the ruck to secure another try just to the right of the posts bringing the scores to 39-40 in Queanbeyan's favour after Jordan Thompson would make the conversion.
With just one point in the match, Uni-Norths would refuse to say die as sheer desperation would lead to a coast-to-coast play from the home side to allow winger Issy Vaili dive over in the right corner in the 83rd minute of the match. With Thompson converting, Uni-Norths would complete their miracle comeback to secure a 46-40 win over the Whites at home.
