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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Caden Helmers

'Lit up every room he walked into': clubs pay tribute to former cult hero

The beard and the wild locks meant Doug Lancaster was impossible to miss. And if you were his opposite man, he wasn't going to miss.

The Whites and Royals paid tribute to Doug Lancaster. Pictures by Stuart Walmsley, BarTV Sports

The shot one of Canberra rugby's former cult heroes put on while playing for the Queanbeyan Whites 11 years ago still gets a run on YouTube.

So it was fitting that Campese Field fell silent before a John I Dent Cup game on Saturday, as the Whites and Canberra Royals - his former clubs - paused to pay tribute to Lancaster's memory.

The game that followed lived up to the billing, with Sione Alatini Vaihu scoring on the final play before Nate Carroll nailed a conversion to give the Whites a thrilling 40-39 victory.

The win means the Whites retain the Bob Hitchcock Territory Shield, and gives them the inside lane in the hunt for a top-two finish. But for a moment, the day was about more than competition points.

"Though Dougy's time with Royals was short, the impact he left on everyone on and off the field will last a lifetime," a Royals tribute said.

"A tough, hard-hitting player on the field, and the kind of teammate everyone wants beside them. Dougy brought unmatched energy to everything he was a part of, lighting up every room he walked into.

"Rest in peace, Dougy. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

The Gungahlin Eagles shook up the John I Dent Cup finals race with a 36-19 upset win over the ladder-leading Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park.

It came after Gungahlin held Tuggeranong scoreless in a 26-0 win in the Premier XVs competition's top of the table clash.

The Whites were far from the only side to prevail in a grandstand finish around the grounds on Saturday.

The Woden Valley Rams stunned the Belconnen United Sharks in a Katrina Fanning Shield comeback. Pictures by Keegan Carroll

Trae Bennetto nailed a last-second field goal to give the Tuggeranong Bushrangers a 25-24 win over the Yass Magpies at Walker Park in the Canberra Raiders Cup, while the Queanbeyan Kangaroos pipped Woden Valley Rams 20-18. Across the border, the Belconnen United Sharks prevailed in Goulburn with a 28-22 win, having trailed 18-0.

The most wild rugby league result of the day, though?

One draw might come around every now and then. Back-to-back draws is almost unheard of. What about three in a row?

Because Yass have picked up their third consecutive draw in the Katrina Fanning Shield after their clash with the Bushrangers ended in a 4-4 stalemate at Walker Park. The part that will really sting? Yass are still yet to win a game this season.

In AFL Canberra circles, many are still wondering if two unbeaten teams could finish the season undefeated.

Ainslie's men's side claimed a 28.13 (181) to 7.10 (52) win over the Gungahlin Jets at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.

The team next in line is Tuggeranong Valley, who sit second following a 15.16 (106) to 3.5 (23) win over the Queanbeyan Tigers. Who saw that coming at the start of the year?

Queanbeyan's women's side fared far better, recording a 13.11 (89) to 1.3 (9) win over Tuggeranong.

Billie Hamilton was the architect of the 80-point victory, with the rising star booting six goals as she continues to push her claim for a spot on an AFLW list. She already has two sisters playing at the Sydney Swans, while her brother Riley just picked up a Rising Star nomination in his second appearance for GWS. Some family, that one.

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