It's washing balls at half-time good. It's the first-grade coach having a black eye after playing two games earlier in the day sort of good. It's ... well, it's just good. Don't believe me? Well let me tell you about the day the Uni-Norths Owls played their first game in four months and waited 74 minutes before launching their bid for victory against Royals.

Canberra sport was different in almost every way when it made its coronavirus comeback on Saturday, but not even COVID-19 can change the feeling of belting out the team song after a John I Dent Cup thriller.

The Owls scored a dramatic win over defending champions Royals at Phillip Oval, waiting until the final play of the game to snatch the most unlikeliest 26-24 win.

Owls coach Sam Rolfe, ginger after copping a knock or two in his earlier matches, was shaking his head for most of the match.

And then a bit of magic, which reminded everyone why we have a love-hate relationship with sport at all levels.Prop Max Bode burrowed over in the 74^th minute then winger Byron Hollingworth scored two tries in two minutes to lift the Owls to a 26-24 win.

Pure elation for the Owls and cruel heartbreak for last year's premiers Royals. But this is why they both play. For the winners: the triumphant smiles. For the losers: The determination to never let it happen again. For both: the unpredictable and unique opportunities in sport.

"Our first half was pretty poor and we didn't pull our finger out for the first 20 minutes of the second half," Rolfe says with a black eye already emerging.

"It's outstanding to have sport back. We've all been waiting for it. We're getting back to normal."

Well, coronavirus normal anyway. There was a name register at the gate, a compliance officer checking numbers and physical distancing and a tub of soapy water at halfway.

But ACT rugby couldn't have asked for a better display than they got in the game of the round. Royals, a powerhouse for the past five years, looked as slick as they did when they won the title last season and jumped out to an early lead.

They scored three first-half tries - two to Seth Going - and then opened up a 24-7 lead just after the break when Rory Scott crashed over to finish off a superb attacking raid.

Then the virus legs started to kick in and the game drifted, but even with time running out the Owls were determined to get something out of their first match of the year and the first after ending a four-month wait for round one.

Bode got his second and the Owls reset in the hope of getting within seven points to secure a losing bonus point. A Billy Pollard flick pass sent Hollingworth tearing away for his first as time ticked away.

The former sprinter - who boasts a wind-assisted personal best 100 metres time of 10.42 seconds - then found some open space again and tucked the ball under his arm with the line beckoning.

"To get that last one, I still can't believe it. It's surreal ... I'm speechless," Hollingworth said. "We did two pre-seasons, that was pretty rough."

Teams have been training together for the past six weeks, eased back into contact work before the ACT government ticked off on sport's return 48 hours before kick-off.

"I've got to say a huge congratulations all of our for the work they put in during the break. I think that's what showed in the end - our fitness and a bit of belief," Rolfe said.

Royals will still be scratching their heads on Sunday morning wondering how they lost the unloseable. Their ill-discipline halted their momentum and proved costly in the end.

"We just didn't adjust. That's disappointing more than anything," said Royals coach Wayne Southwell. "The scrum went well, and the first 40 minutes was good. But we didn't hold the pill and you can't give away that many penalties."

A round-one loss at home in a shortened 10-week season is a tough pill to swallow after waiting so long to get on the field, which was in pristine condition thanks to the lack of action since March.

But Southwell, although disappointed, still managed a grin. "No excuses, we thought we'd be better and we'll be better next week. But, yeah, it's good to be back," Southwell said. And it's hard to argue.

AT A GLANCE

John I Dent Cup: UNI-NORTHS OWLS 26 (Max Bode 2, Byron Hollingworth 2; Jordan Thomson 3 conversions) bt ROYALS 24 (Seth Going 2, Will Burden, Rory Scott tries; Tom Hallam 2 conversions), TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 45 bt QUEANBEYAN WHITES 7, GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 43 bt WESTS 36.

Women: GOULBURN 22 bt WESTS 5