July 5, 2025, Round 14 Wests vs Brothers

First Grade

The Wests Bulldogs have surged into genuine title contention following a hard-fought 27-21 victory over reigning premiers Brothers in Round 14 of the 2025 season. Wests set the tone early with a blistering opening half, using quick ball movement and strong carries to break through the Brothers defence. Their backline combinations were sharp and decisive, resulting in three unanswered tries as they headed into the break with all the momentum. Facing a 15 – point deficit, Brothers responded in typical fashion after halftime. A composed and determined second-half performance saw the visitors claw their way back into the contest, scoring three tries of their own and closing the gap to just three points as the game entered its final stages. But it was the Bulldogs who would have the final say. A composed penalty conversion from Louis Werchon in the closing minutes extended the margin to six, enough to hold off a late Brothers surge and secure a crucial victory. The result sees Wests move to within one point of ladder-leaders Brothers, with just a handful of regular-season rounds remaining. With the race for the top four heating up, every result from here on carries significant weight and this win signals that Wests are a team to be taken seriously heading into finals.

Founders Cup

It was a challenging outing for our Founders Cup squad on the weekend, falling 46-7 to a dominant Wests side. Sarah Riordan crossed for our only points of the match, showcasing her determination against a team that remains unbeaten in both the Challenge Cup and Founders Cup competitions this season. Facing such a formidable opponent was always going to be a tall order, but our girls fought hard and showed promising signs throughout the contest. Defensive grit and flashes of attacking cohesion gave glimpses of the team’s growing potential. Despite the scoreboard, there’s plenty to build on as the squad turns their focus to another heavyweight challenge next week, taking on Bond in what promises to be another spirited encounter.

Club Recap: Mixed results see wests edge ahead in dougherty shield race

It was a weekend of highs and lows across the grades, as a mixed set of results allowed Wests to extend their lead in the Doughty Shield standings. The highlight came from our 2nd Grade side, who delivered a statement performance with a dominant win over Wests, the only team to beat them so far this season. It was a clinical display and a major boost heading into the final stretch. In Colts action, both Colts 2 and Colts 3 came out on top in crucial top-of-the-table clashes, reinforcing their strong position in the premiership hunt. Over in the community competitions, 6th Grade were narrowly edged out in a tight 17-22 battle, while Colts 4 Navy put on a clinic with a resounding 52-0 win over Sunnybank. Colts 4 White, however, found the going tough against a strong GPS outfit, going down 19-42. With a handful of rounds remaining, every result counts and the fight for the Doughty is well and truly alive. Special mention to 3rd grade number 7 Zac Mills who scored on his 100th club appearance.