The Tuggeranong Vikings are 80 minutes away from a fifth straight John I Dent Cup premiership after seeing off the Queanbeyan Whites 22-19 in Saturday's major semi-final at Viking Park.
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The Vikings played the second half with only 14 players after prop Sione Taula was given his marching orders for stomping in the ruck.
The Whites must now re-group for next weekend's preliminary final, where they will face the winner of Sunday's elimination encounter between Wests and the Canberra Royals.
Whites flanker Sokai Tai scored with five minutes on the clock to get his side within three points to set up a thrilling finish.
Vikings five-eighth Rodney Iona, who scored 12 of his side's 22 points, including the final try, was relieved to get through to another decider.
"We worked so hard during the pre-season and it's good to get a bit of coin at the end of the season," Iona said.
"It's hard when you have one person down, but the talk at halftime was that nothing changes and stick to the game plan.
"Hopefully we can go all the way."
Queanbeyan coach Adam Fahey said his side paid the price for being just below their best.
"We were off a little bit in some areas, and you can't be in semi-final footy," Fahey said.
"It probably wasn't the greatest spectator game, but semi-final football sometimes isn't.
"We get to utilise our get out of jail card and we'll front up next week and have another crack."
Queanbeyan got on the board first through the boot of Mitch Douch in the 11th minute.
It didn't take long for the Vikings to respond, winger Jake Knight stepping his way through the defence to score the game's opening try.
Fringe Brumbies halfback Joe Powell displayed a clean pair of heels to extend the lead, scooting down the flank to take the score to 12-3.
Three straight penalty goals from Douch brought the scores level as the Whites ground their way back into the game.
Vikings were dealt a blow a minute before half-time, when Taula was shown a red card for stomping with the scores tied 12-all.
A penalty goal from Iona early in the second half put the Vikings back in front.
Iona then found a gap in the Queanbeyan defence in the 65th minute to score under the posts for a 22-12 lead.
JOHN I DENT CUP
Saturday: Major semi-finals at Viking Park: First grade: Tuggeranong Vikings 22 (Jake Knight, Joe Powell, Rodney Iona tries; Rodney Iona penalty goal, 2 conversions) bt Queanbeyan Whites 19 (Sokai Tai try, Mitch Douch 4 penalty goals, conversion). Second grade: Queanbeyan 20 bt Tuggeranong 15. Colts: Tuggeranong 32 bt Royals 17. Third grade: Queanbeyan 33 bt Tuggeranong 22. Fourth grade: Wests 45 bt Tuggeranong 12.
Sunday: Minor semi-finals at Viking Park: Fourth grade: Queanbeyan v Royals, 10.25am. Third grade: Wests v Uni-Norths, noon. Colts: Uni-Norths v Queanbeyan, 12.05pm. Second grade: Wests v Uni-Norths, 1.40pm. First grade: Wests v Royals, 3.15pm.
