Matchday 18 – Match Report

Fourth Grade
Brothers 15 – 5 Mac Uni
With Merrylands having been thrown out of the competition for having an “unreliable player history” it gave fourth grade an opportunity to clinch a finals spot by beating Macquarie Uni.
A solid squad assembled for the game, and it looked like had the quality in our ranks to grab our finals spot.
It was great to see a couple of Colts boys coming in for a run. Thanks boys.
We started quite well and started to get the upper hand on our young, fit opponents, and but for a couple of uncharacteristic errors from some usually more reliable players, we found ourselves just a few points up at half time.
The second half continued like the first with Brothers dominating in the forwards, but not quite converting the pressure into points.
Eventually we picked the lock in the Uni defence and Gav Opie ran in unopposed under the posts to seal the win and a finals place for the Blue n gold.
Next up, Hills, who beat us at Roseville on a crappy wet day, so it’s hard to tell where their strengths lie, but one thing is for sure, they’ll have the same fitness and attitude as Uni, coupled with a bit more bulk and experience, it’s sure to be a tough game.
But it’s finals, and anything could happen, if we’re prepared and mentally ready for such a huge game.

Tries:
Opie and Tim

Player Points:
Opie – Scored the decisive try and was a constant menace at the base of the scrum.
BOKO – Marshalled the forwards and gave Mick and Leon great service, and made a new friend in the Orchard afterwards, exciting day all round.
Leon – Strong straight running, and tough uncompromising tackling.

Third Grade
Brothers 15 – 7 Mac Uni

It was a bit of a dead rubber, with nothing for either team to play for really but pride.
Despite that, it was a solid, experienced side that took the pitch.
Third grade had a point to prove, after having a promising season curtailed over the previous few weeks due to injury, illness and various other reasons.
It seemed right from the start that Uni were up for the contest.
As a matter of fact, maybe they were a little too up for the game with a number of disciplinary issues causing then to play with 14 players for the vast majority of the game.
Interestingly, once they lost a player to a red card, they played their best rugby and started playing well as a unit, but the extra man started to tell in the last ten minutes or so, as Brothers piled on more and more pressure close to their line.
A late penalty from more indiscipline saw us seal the game off and with that top off what has been a season of ups and downs.

Tries:
Opie and Dean got one apiece.

Player points:
Dean – Another good game, nice to see him back after a couple of weeks out with injury.
Slutty – Solid in defence, and vocal and organised in attack.
Opie – Menacing presence in the back row, got nice go forward time and time again.

Second Grade
Brothers 43 – 0 Mac Uni

It was a pretty familiar Uni side that took the field to take on high flying Brothers Second Grade.
Unfortunately for Mac Uni, despite the undoubted talent they have in their ranks, when you are really short of numbers, then there’s not much you can do.
Second grade took Uni to the sword with a massively dominant forward display coupled with deadly pace and guile in the backs.
Even Mick Danieluk got to feel the wrath of the second grade forward pack, with Johnny Gibb’s head winning a battle with Mick’s eyeball. That’s gonna be a belter of a shiner on Tuesday! Just as well we have a week off before finals start!
There will be much tougher tests in the finals, but it’s good to go in with some momentum with an extremely good win.
Nice to see some colts having another run in second grade, with BIG LAV, Stu and Tyler running on in seconds to join Steve and Summers who played in fours.

Tries:
Wes grabbed 2 as did Dom North.
Dave Taylor popped up and scored a brace of tries, it’s been a while since that’s happened, well done Dave!
Ned Brown picked up another.

Player points:
Farnzy: Marshalled the attack excellently, and kicked an audacious conversion to win a $50 bet, not a bad day’s work.
Johnny: Made so many yards, and spent most of the day running with three Uni lads hanging off his legs, and did it all while still looking GREAT!
Mick Bird: Came on for a cameo and had a blinder. Not bad for an auld fella!!!!

First Grade
Brothers 88 – 0 Mac Uni

Well, what can you say about this game.
It was a complete mismatch physically and in terms of skill levels.
Uni have some excellent players as we know from last season and the earlier part of this season, but it’s hard to retain players when things are going against you.
Credit has to go to the Uni boys, who defended bravely and with MASSIVE guts and determination, despite most of them having played in the lower grades.
It’s a really shame to see a team not have a fresh first grade, and not having a fresh first fifteen is the best part of a 30 point handicap before you even start.
But you can only beat what’s in front of you, and Brothers killed the game off pretty quickly and showed some glimpses of the style and skills that have been a little bit missing since that day out at Blue Mountains.
However, there will be much tougher days out in the finals and this game will not have done us any favours in terms of preparation for a big test in two weeks’ time.
Highlight of the day has to be Gortley getting his 20 second first grade debut, it’s unlikely that Burnsie will leave Wadey in charge of the touchline for even once second again.
Also, nice to see Kilby back and playing senior rugby after a successful Colts season.

Tries:
Jone grabbed 4!
Jack grabbed 2 to add to his 4 from last week.
Bails got 2 and did Francis.
Blacky, Charlie and Matty got one each in this terribly one sided affair.

Player Points
Jone – The open game really suits him and he carved the defence open at will, and linked really well with Charlie and the other loosies.
Vinny – Controlled the game and tore open the defence by getting the big strike runners hitting the jaded Uni line at full speed.
Bails – Bagged a brace and had a great all round game, obviously the open game suits him as well.