The chainsaw was roaring and the Queanbeyan Whites old boys were on their feet, but the Tuggeranong Vikings defied a late surge from the hosts to hang on for a five-point victory.
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The Vikings defended with everything they had in the dying stages of the game to hold off the rampaging Whites 29-24 in their John I Dent Cup clash at Campese Oval on Saturday.
The Whites were down 29-12 after 55 minutes before scoring consecutive tries to get themselves back into the contest and providing a fitting finish to the club's 60th anniversary celebrations.
But the Vikings spoiled the party, holding the Whites at bay as they were camped inside their 22m line for the final eight minutes of the game.
Vikings coach Brad Harris said he wasn't surprised to see the Whites charge home strongly in the second half.
"They love running down the hill here in the second half so we knew they would come back hard at us," Harris said.
"We had very little possession, they kicked well, got their second wind and to be honest, we were pretty lucky to hang on in the end.
"It's a positive we were good there (at the end), but we allowed them to have that field position.
"Both sides are carrying a few injuries, so if we can get back to full strength it should be a ding, dong battle."
Wallabies duo Nic White and Christian Lealiifano were on the sidelines watching their former teams - White having come through the ranks with the Whites and Lealiifano having played with the Vikings.
Their Brumbies teammate Nigel Ah Wong was impressive in a 55-minute stint for the Vikings after a second-half cameo in Friday night's 22-16 win against the Bulls, while hooker Les Makin was strong in the first half for the Whites before being replaced at the break in his comeback from a knee injury.
Whites coach Adam Fahey said the match continued the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs.
"Do you get anything different between Queanbeyan and Vikings?" Fahey said.
"We've played five or six games in the last two years, and apart from the grand finals, no more than five points separate them.
"It says a lot about both teams."
The White were down to 14 men for 20 minutes of the game with Billy Chalker and Jake Gordon receiving yellow cards in seperate incidents.
In other games, Wests easily accounted for Easts 49-14 at Griffith Oval and the Gungahlin Eagles were too strong for Uni-Norths Owls 31-3 at ANU North Oval.
John I Dent Cup: Tuggeranong Vikings 29 bt Queanbeyan Whites 24 at Campese Oval. Wests 49 bt Easts 14 at Griffith Oval. Gungahlin Eagles 31 bt Uni-Norths Owls 3 at ANU North Oval.
