Another thrilling round of Hospital Cup rugby saw Souths play host to a dominant Bond University, while Brothers made it two from two as GPS had their first hit out of the year. 

A 13-man Easts side survived a late surge from the University of Queensland, while Norths stole the win from Wests with a kick in the dying seconds. 

Bond University 24-7 Souths

Bond University continued their title defence with their second win of the season, wearing down a worthy opponent in Souths to prove too strong in the second half. 

Chipsy Wood Oval played host to the round two clash, as Souths faced their second 2025 grand finalist side in as many weeks. 

The visitors took an early lead with their first try off the back of a powerful rolling maul, before a penalty to flyhalf Luke Depiazzi made it 10-nil.

Souths hit back just before half time, with a well-weighted cross-field kick from Harry Leerentveld finding its way into the arms of winger Henry Hourigan to bring his side back within three points at the break. 

But those would be the only points the home side would secure for the rest of the match.

Bond stamped their authority early in the second half with a well-worked lineout play putting skipper Tyler Campbell into space, who offloaded to Ryan McGloin just shy of the line to score. 

A penalty try a few minutes later sealed it for the visitors, with the deficit too much for Souths to recover from as they recorded a second loss for the season despite another spirited display. 

Brothers 43-33 GPS 

Having started the season with a bye, GPS were yet to make their mark on the competition in 2026, and would have been eager for a positive start in their first outing at Yoku Road. 

But the home side were caught napping early when veteran backrower Brad Hemopo took a quick tap just five metres out from the line and forced his way over to score first points for Brothers. 

GPS finally found their rhythm with a quarter of the game gone, with scrum half James Martens playing quickly himself and burrowing through the defensive line for his side’s first try of their 2026 campaign. 

Then Oskar Enasio created some magic from within his own half to extend the lead for the Gallopers, before Brothers flyhalf Finn Prass responded with his own five pointer. 

Tries either side of the half gave the home side a 14-point lead, but the Brethern wouldn’t go away. 

Two tries off the back of their rolling maul brought the scores back level, then Henry Smith found space on the right wing to give the visitors the lead. 

Centre David Fusitu’a crashed over from close range with 15 mins left to play, before a penalty goal from Benn Dalle Cort all-but sealed the win. 

GPS almost mounted a late comeback with lock Charles McCauley in open space and no one in front of him, but a brilliant cover tackle from Prass saw him dislodge the ball over the line and leave the home crowd in disbelief. 

Final points went to the Gallopers as Enasio bagged a double, but it wasn’t enough to secure a second losing bonus point in this high-scoring affair. 

Easts 35-29 University of Queensland

Easts survived a late fight back despite being down to just 13 men to edge out University of Queensland at home. 

The home side struck first in the opening minutes, with winger Reece Tapine crossing in the far corner. 

Easts hit back quickly through their rolling maul, then outside centre Matthew Smit capitalised on a break from his centre partner Jake Pappin to get his first of two for the day. 

A Red Heavies penalty try made it four scores in just 18 minutes, with no.8 Nuku Swerling shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul. 

Easts scored again through Smit despite being down to 14, then the home side’s maul proved too strong as hooker Zach Baird came up with five points on debut.

With the Tigers leading 21-17, it was anyone’s game for the taking at the half time break. 

The visitors drew first blood in the second 40 when lock Will Sankey charged down a UQ box kick, giving Swerling a free run to the line. 

Another score each meant Easts held a 13-point lead with a little over 15 minutes left to play. But the visitors’ discipline let them down, as Swerling was shown his second yellow and subsequent red card for a high tackle, before skipper Sankey was also sent to the sin bin a few minutes later for an infringement at the maul. 

The home side capitalised on the overlap through their replacement scrum half who found space close to the ruck to score, and continued to mount pressure on a scrambling Easts outfit. 

Despite playing with 13 men for majority of the dying minutes, the Tigers managed to hold off the Red Heavies’ advances to wind down the clock and take their first victory of 2026.

Norths 36-34 Wests

In a proper arm wrestle, Wests managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, turning the ball over with seconds left on the clock to give the visitors the chance to slot a penalty as the buzzer sounded at Sci-Fleet Stadium.

The home side started well, securing first points through blindside flanker Keynan Tauakipulu with a dive from the base of the ruck at close range. 

Norths responded quickly, building pressure through multiple phases before Charlie Cooke crossed, soon followed by a second score to Mackenzie Fox on the left wing. 

But the Bulldogs hit back immediately off the restart, as winger Ben Navosailagi pounced on the loose ball and raced 30 metres to reach the try line without a hand laid on him. 

They headed into the sheds locked up at 14-all, and continued to trade blows into the second half. 

Bulldogs second rower Dom Thygesen crossed first, before his opposite number in Jordan Penquit showed incredible pace to slice through the defence and beat the backs to the line.

Wests scored once more through Alosio Bera, but soon lost two players to the sin bin which saw them surrender their lead as the visitors crossed twice. 

Two penalty goals to James Alexander kept the home side in front by one point, and with time almost up, Wests just needed to survive a few phases to secure the win. 

But Norths managed to swarm the breakdown, forcing the turnover and subsequent penalty, which Benjamin Mooney slotted from 30 metres out to steal the Eagles’ first win of the season.