With their finals hopes hanging by a thread, the Canberra Royals were left fuming on Saturday after having two players sent to the sin bin, including Brumbies rookie Tom Staniforth, in their 18-10 loss to Queanbeyan.
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The fifth-placed Royals now have to rely on other results going their way if they are to squeeze into the top four with two rounds to play.
Last season's runners-up are five points adrift on the John I Dent Cup ladder of fourth-placed Wests after a defensive struggle at Campese Oval.
After a scoreless first 40 minutes, the match came to life as the Whites scored two tries to one to consolidate second place on the ladder and guarantee their spot in the finals.
Royals coach Russell Ingram was seething over what he claimed were several contentious refereeing decisions in the second half.
"We've got no hope of winning the game when only one team is being refereed,'' Ingram said.
"First half, we play to the referee, we get rewarded for that, [then] it all changes at half-time.
"I don't know what was said or what was done, but we couldn't do a thing right in accordance to the law.
''It was a disgraceful second half.''
A key moment in the game was when Royals were reduced to 14 men when Australian under-20s lock Staniforth was handed a yellow card for an infringement early in the second half.
The Whites made the most of the advantage to find the try-line through Dan Penca a couple of minutes later.
"Staniforth's gone through a driving maul legally and got hold of a player and he's carded for it,'' Ingram said.
"There's nothing wrong with what he did, it's what we coach to do, it's what the Brumbies coach him to do, but suddenly the referee decides that's a yellow card.
''The boys have their heads up because they know they played really well and didn't get any reward.''
Whites fullback Brendon Speers was rewarded after crossing in the 63rd minute when the referee consulted with the touch judge to determine if he had grounded the ball.
Royals winger Liam Slater scored a consolation try late in the game but it did nothing to take away from the satisfaction of Queanbeyan coach Adam Fahey, who applauded his team's magnificent defensive performance.
"It secures our spot in the finals and where we finish is up to us,'' Fahey said.
"Top two is a realistic goal because we control where we finish.''
The top of the table Tuggeranong Vikings ended the season of Uni-Norths with a thumping 39-3 win at Viking Park, while Gungahlin Eagles remained in third with a comfortable 46-8 victory over Easts at Gungahlin Enclosed.
JOHN I DENT CUP
Queanbeyan Whites 18 bt Canberra Royals 10 at Campese Oval. Tuggeranong Vikings 39 bt Uni-Norths 3 at Viking Park. Gungahlin Eagles 46 bt Easts 8 at Gungahlin Enclosed.
