Brothers Rugby Club has completed the first half of the QPR 2024 season with a remarkable Round 9 away at the GPS Rugby Club at the weekend, taking nine out of nine wins to sweep the Gallopers at home for the first time in Brother’s history.
The day was filled with almost all matches decided by a try or less. Fifth Grade, Colts 3, Fourth Grade and Colts 2, Colts 1, Premier Women and Second Grade all saw close calls, with the Reserves kicking a penalty goal after the final siren to shatter the hearts of the GPS faithful and Colts 2 edging through for a try on the final play of the game. Only the undefeated Third Grade looked certain, taking a solid 25-7 win to extend their run.
The Premier Grade main event saw one of Brothers strongest sides in recent memory featuring 63-cap Wallaby James O’Connor, and returning Waratahs capped Harry Lloyd and former Rebel Jaiden Christian adding muscle across the park for what as always set up to be a blockbuster top of the table clash against a GPS side emerging as serious contenders for the 2024 title. The match was a fast flowing affair with a stylish brand of rugby being played both both sides before Brothers broke through with Centre Ben Dalle Cort getting the ball down out on the left wing. Brothers then immediately followed up with a penalty try from a collapsed rolling maul to give the away side a handy lead. GPS hit back through consistent attacking pressure, with Tevita Kaituu dotting the ball down late in the first half before the ever-industrious Will Cartwright forced an error that added to Dalle Cort’s tally right before half time.
The second half started with a desperate GPS trying to break the brothers line off the back of multiple penalties, but failing to come away with points, before brothers broke through again with Dalle Cort taking a third try to heap further pressure on the Gallopers as time ran down. Reserve Halapio Peter scored for GPS with 16 minutes to go before Brothers immediately returned fire, scoring courtesy of a wonderful shift to the right wing for Seb Hanna killing off any final hopes of a home side come back.
The weekend’s result see Brothers sit at the top of the Doughty Shield table at the half-way point of the season, 16 points clear of nearest rival the University of Queensland.
