Hospital Cup

Brothers have mounted a stunning second half comeback to draw with UQ 26-all at Crosby Park in Round 13 of the 2024 Hospital Cup, extending the Butchers’ Stripes record run with the Bunter Bowl to 12 consecutive months, and retaining the Templeton-McLean Cup.

The match was a blockbuster in the making from the build up, with several returning superstars from representative duty for both sides including Ryan Smith, Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan for Brothers and Mack Grealy and Jock Campbell lining for the Red Heavies. Combined with the emotion of Brother’s Old Boys Day seeing several returning heroes from yesteryear in the crowd and with the Brethren eager to avoid a repeat of the humiliation heaped upon them in Round 4 by the ‘old enemy’, the stakes were always going to be high, prompting Stan Sport commentator Nick Frisby to dub the clash as the “game of the season” before the match.

The home side appeared lethargic out of the gates in greasy and windy conditions, turning over easy ball through sloppy handling and ill discipline to a Uni side that was only too eager to take advantage of the gift territory, pinning Brothers in their own 22 early. The result was an 8th minute try to Uni fullback Queensland Red Jock Campbell which was duly converted by an ice-cool Kye Oates who handled the breey conditions with aplomb.

Brothers discipline continued to remain a factor throughout the remainder of the half, with Uni seeing no fewer than 14 unanswered penalties in the half, with the home side seeming to draw the ire of referee Palmer at every opportunity. Alex Davies scored under the posts, through a bash and crash try in the 20th minute, Brothers having prop Liam Fletcher sent to the Bin for repeat infringements. As a result Uni winger Samuela Tuisau was able to heap more misery on Brothers with a try out wide in the 32nd minute, and Red Heavies prop Jack Grady doubling down on dishing more pain to those in the Butchery on last play, after yet another spate of penalties giving Uni a commanding 26-nil half time lead.

Overcoming a 26-point deficit was always going to be an uphill battle, and most would be forgiven for writing off Brothers. However, this is a side that has proven time and time again that its belief in itself, and the belief its supporters have in it, are well justified.

Whatever coach Ben McCormack said at half time must have sparked something inside of players in the butchers stripes, with the backs combining nicely to open the scoring for Brothers through fullback Finn Prasss out wide in the 43rd Minute, before Will Cartwright and Isaac Tarabay combined to put the latter down on the left edge six minutes later, giving the home side hope.

University then committed Brothers’ earlier sin of having a man sent off, with Jack Brady going to the Bin for foul play, opening up Brothers to make good of the advantage through a bold fend from Prasse to score again, narrowing the score to a converted try difference through Ben Dalle Cort’s kicking in tough conditions.

The following 15 minutes saw desperate play from both sides, with Uni holding on for dear life in the face of a Brothers team who suddenly found momentum with them, eking out a territory advantage to have them camped on Uni’s try line with less than three minutes to go. The relentless pressure started to show, with the Red Heavies giving away consecutive penalties which allowed a barn-storming pick and drive from Michael Wood in to make it a two point game. Dalle Cort deftly added the extras, locking the scores at 26-all.

Despite a sloppy restart from Brothers, with stalwart Number 10 Paddy James failing to regather a chip and chase, and Uni trying to surge in to close out the match, Seb Hanna made a clutch turnover after full time to keep the scores deadlocked, and secure the most thrilling comebacks for Brothers since 2023’s Grand Final victory.

Premier Women

Brothers Premier Women have put in a tenacious performance against the high-flying UQ Women to continue their impressive rebuild, losing a hard fought contest 33-12.

The away side were heavy favourites going into the contest, having belted Brothers by 86 points in Round 4, however they were faced by a much improved Brothers side in this match up, with the home side physically overpowering the Students and dominating possession and territory in the opening exchanges. Despite the early ball, Brothers’ discipline at the ruck caused repeated penalties resulting in a yellow card to Centre Davina Lasini, which opened the way for Uni to score three quick tries, taking them to 19-nil. The Red Heavies were able to score again in the shadows of half-time, before Brothers made use of a lovely passage of play saw winger Jaxlyn Leota dot the ball dawn in the corner off the last play, the teams entering the sheds at 26-5.

A much improved second half saw the home side begin to push the visitors hard, conceding only one try before talismanic 10 Crystal Mayes steered the team into a commanding center-field position which the Brothers Women capitalised off through a try under the posts to draw Uni for the half.

2nd Grade

Brothers Reserve Grade has dominated Uni 41-14 in a 1 v 2 clash to determine the winner of the ‘Coffey’ Jones Memorial Shield. The home-side is now well and truly entrenched as the pack leader, remaining undefeated after 13 rounds.

The Students saw their best opportunities come int he opening exchanges, with Brothers starting slow before a run of tries before half-time had the visitors on the back foot, a position they never recovered from as the game wore on.

Other Results

Strong results across the grades has seen Brothers take the lead in the race for the Doughty Shield, leading UQ 345-345, with Uni yet to have their final bye of the season.