2025 StoreLocal Hospital Cup: Major Semi-Final | Brothers vs Easts

Sunday afternoon saw Brothers clash with Easts in a high-stakes battle for a place in the 2025 Grand Final. Both sides entered the contest in strong form, each carrying a win over the other this season setting the stage for a fiery decider. Brothers struck early, with in-form flyhalf Harry Grant crossing in just the third minute. What followed was a tense half-hour of back-and-forth play, as Easts hit back with tries of their own. But it was young winger Will Cartwright who stole the show before the break, producing a dazzling “Try of the Season” contender right on the 40th minute. Brothers went into halftime with a 31–21 advantage. The second half turned into a defensive arm-wrestle, with the Brethren digging deep to protect their lead. Easts finally cracked the line in the 66th minute to give themselves a lifeline, but Brothers’ stubborn defence refused to yield. Fittingly, they capped the performance with a try on the final whistle to seal a 38–28 victory. The result books Brothers’ third consecutive Grand Final at Ballymore—and with it, a golden opportunity to secure a historic three-peat.