Two wingers scored Canberra club rugby tries to fire a reminder to the Wallabies, but another speedster stole the show on the eve of the John I Dent Cup finals.
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ACT Brumbies flyer Andy Muirhead scored a double for Royals on Saturday, including the match-winner in a tense win against the Gungahlin Eagles 25-22.
The result ruined the Eagles' hopes of securing the minor premiership and has ignited the play-off race with just one game left in the regular season.
The Eagles were buoyed by the return of Henry Speight for his third game in nine seasons, scoring a try to impress Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Toni Pulu did the same across town, scoring in his debut for Easts in their loss to the Queanbeyan Whites.
But Muirhead, who is one of the front-runners to replace the departing Speight, took centre stage as he swerved his way past defenders at Phillip Oval.
"Andy was sweeping the sheds last weekend and helped set up the ground on Saturday morning. He's the sort of guy who just gives people confidence around him," said Royals coach Wayne Southwell.
"There was quality on both sides. Gungahlin are very, very good and it took a good performance to get over them, so we're happy.
"We left a few little things out there, so we'll work on them. The guys have worked extremely hard, it's nice to see a performance like that."
Muirhead was one of the unluckiest Brumbies this year, stuck behind Speight and Pulu in the pecking order but always on the cusp of Super Rugby game time.
The fleet-footed winger has been a classy addition to the Brumbies squad since moving to the capital at the end of 2016 for a rugby chance.
"I always love coming back to Royals," Muirhead said. "I always enjoy coming back here, even when you've got that disappointment of not playing [for the Brumbies].
"It's been a bit of a try drought this year, so it is good to get a couple."
Royals are now equal with the Eagles on the ladder after both moved to 56 points. The Tuggeranong Vikings are lurking on 54 points after their bonus-point win on Saturday.
It means the top two spots, and an important second chance in the finals, will be decided in the last round of the season.
The Eagles will play the win-less Easts, while Royals will meet the Vikings in a finals warm-up clash.
Speight made his comeback to Gungahlin and is expected to play again next week if he's not required for Wallabies duties in Brisbane.
The fan-favourite scored a try and was Gungahlin's spark in the second half, but in the end the Eagles fell agonisingly short when Muirhead scored with less than 10 minutes left.
Gungahlin has already secured top spot in the colts, third grade and second grade competitions.
"It's a shame we couldn't get that today as well," said coach Marco Caputo.
"It felt like a final. We gave away too many penalties, I think it was something like 15-7 in the penalty count.
"We're not going to win games in the finals with a count like that. But it's small margins at this time of year.
AT A GLANCE
ROYALS 25 (Andy Muirhead 2, Lincoln Smith tries; Pedro Rolando 2 conversions, 2 penalties) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 22 (Henry Speight, Mack Hansen, Nic Dobson tries; Isaac Walker 2 conversions, penalty); TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 63 bt WESTS 14; QUEANBEYAN WHITES 27 bt EASTS 20