By TOM PRIMMER

With Round Nine in the books, just two games of the Hospital Cup season remain, and five teams are still in finals contention after the weekend’s action. 

Brothers continued their charge to the finals with a strong win over the Eagles in the Northside derby, but GPS kept the Brethren out of the four with a comprehensive win against Souths. 

Easts moved into first position with a seven-point win over Wests at Tigerland, ending the Bulldogs’ slim finals hopes. 

To round out the action, Bond University continued their strong form with a win over Sunnybank. 

Let’s take a look around the grounds. 

Brothers 38 v Norths 21 

Brothers retained the Green Beacon Cup, running out 38-21 winners against Norths in the battle of the Northside at Hugh Courtney Oval. 

The 17-point win keeps the Brethren within touching distance of the top-four, still sitting just two points adrift of GPS in fifth spot. 

Brothers’ young backline were again at their best, with wingers Nate Carroll and Billy Bulley both crossing for doubles, while hooker Matt Faessler was key for the side in the front row. 

The Brethren went to the half-time break with a narrow 14-nil lead after a tight first half, before laying on four tries in the opening 30-minutes of the second stanza to claim an unassailable lead over the Eagles.

Brothers head coach Anthony Mathison said his side was building confidence as they approached the pointy end of the competition. 

“I was impressed with our ability to defend for extended periods of time in the first half,” Mathison said. 

“We didn’t have a lot of possession early on and we had to work hard for each other to not concede points in the first half.

“We have continued to build in confidence each week. We know that we have the ability to play great rugby and can challenge any team in the competition. 

“We just need to keep putting in the hard work at training so that we keep improving each Saturday.”

Norths showed their potential in patches but were unable to compete with the Brethren for the full 80-minutes in front of a strong crowd at Shaw Road.

Injured fullback Nick Chapman said Brothers’ consistency and accuracy was the eventual difference on Saturday. 

“We were pretty evenly matched in the first half, just think brothers had more in the tank and played for the whole 80-minutes,” Chapman said.

“They were really calm under pressure and executed really well at pivotal times.

“Rohan Saifoloi played unreal for brothers getting them out of danger a few times with his boot.”

Norths will face Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval this weekend, while Brothers take on Sunnybank away from home.

Brothers 38 (Nate Carroll 2, Billy Bulley 2, Liam Richman, Matt Faessler tries; Rohan Saifoloi 4 conversions) d Norths 21 (Liam Prendergast 2, Kenneth Taviri tries; Ethan Richards 3 conversions) 

Easts 22 v Wests 15 

Easts have moved into top spot on the ladder after narrowly accounting for Wests.

In a closely contested affair, the Tigers held a six-point lead at half-time, before eventually proving too strong in a pulsating second half at Tigerland. 

The Bulldogs held a 15-14 lead with 15-minutes to play, before a 40-metre Eli Pilz penalty and a Matt Smit try put Easts back into the lead. 

With their season on the line, the Bulldogs were unable to break through the Tigers defence to snatch an upset win, with the newly crowned ladder-leaders showing their class to hold on for a 22-15 win. 

The loss brings an end to Wests’ finals hopes, with the side now mathematically unable to catch any of the sides in the top five over the final two rounds of the regular season. 

Although their top four aspirations have been condemned, the Bulldogs again showed their ability to compete, with the side in the battle for the full 80-minutes against a classy Easts outfit. 

Youngster Jacob Carmichael again delivered crisp service from halfback, while the Wests forward pack was far from overawed against the power of the competition’s best set-piece unit with a raucous home crowd behind them. 

The Bulldogs will take on UQ next round, with the westside foes facing off on a Sunday afternoon at St Lucia. 

The win sees Easts move ahead of UQ and into pole position with two rounds to play. 

Eli Pilz further pressed his claims as the player of 2020 with an assured performance at No.9, while the Tigers front row impressed in what was a battle of two of the competition’s best scrummaging sides. 

The Tigers have the bye in Round 10, before meeting Brothers in the final round of the regular season in a clash which could help to decide the makeup of the top-four. 

Easts 22 (Matt Smit 2, Eli Pilz tries; Pilz 2 conversions; Pilz penalty) d Wests 15 (Rob Puliuvea, Paul Ah Him tries; Cooper Whiteside conversion; Whiteside penalty) 

GPS 47 Souths 14 

GPS rediscovered their attacking form with a resounding 47-14 victory over Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval. 

Jeeps went to the half-time break with a 19-7 lead, before running in four tries in a strong second-half showing to seal a 33-point win over the Magpies. 

Electric winger Josh Collins scored a double for the Gallopers, while new playmaking combination AJ Alatimu and Teti Tela at flyhalf and fullback respectively also impressed, steering the side around the park with great success. 

In his starting return Dan Gorman was also strong around the park along with backrower Ratu Batibasaga as Jeeps returned to the winner’s circle after a loss to Wests last round.

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo said the win would prove important for the Gallopers as they again aim to qualify for the finals. 

“It was good to see our boys come out and score some tries after what was a frustrating game last weekend,” Prinsloo said. 

“I was pleased with our work ethic in the first 40-minutes. 

“That set us up for the second 40 to build some pressure which the boys did well to convert their opportunities.

“We now look forward to a red-hot Bond team next week in another must win game”

The loss is Souths sixth consecutive defeat, as the young side continues their Premier Rugby apprenticeships. 

The Magpies again showed their huge promise, going with the Gallopers for much of the first half, before fading in the second stanza as the experienced GPS core hit its straps. 

Souths will take on Norths this weekend, while Jeeps face Bond in a clash which could have huge consequences on the finals, with GPS having a bye the following week. 

GPS 47 (Josh Collins 2, Emosi Tuqiri, AJ Alatimu, Cullin Cooper-Jones, Maaloga Konelio, Ratu Batibasaga tries; Alatimu 6 conversions) d Souths 14 (Sebastian Hanna, KJ Lam tries; Luka Samoa 2 conversions) 

Bond University 59 Sunnybank 43 

Bond University continued their charge to the finals on Saturday with a 59-43 win over Sunnybank at Oldmac Oval.

Attack was the order of the day at the Bank, with 15 tries and over 100-points scored in an end-to-end display of offensive Rugby.

Bond trailed by three-point at half-time, before again surging late, scoring two tries in the final five-minutes of play to sew up a 16-point win over the Dragons. 

Joey Fittock made a triumphant return in Bullsharks colours, with the pacy winger scoring a hat-trick after spending much of the season in the Super Rugby bubble with the Reds. 

Centre-pairing Ryan Menzies and Dan Boardman also crossed for tries, as Bond showed just why they have become known as one of the competition’s most potent attacking outfits. 

The win consolidates the Gold Coaster’s spot in the top-four, and with Easts enjoying a bye this weekend, the side could go to the top of the ladder by the end of Round 10 if they can come out on top this Saturday. 

Despite the win, the side will undoubtedly be unimpressed with leaking 43-points and will be out to put in a more assured defensive display against fellow finals contenders GPS on the Gold Coast this weekend. 

Although the Dragons were unable to come away with the chocolates, the side again showed their ability and grit, pushing for the full 80-minutes against a Bond side who may figure deep into the finals series this year.

Former Wallaby and Queensland winger Digby Ioane also showed his class, scoring a double, while Sunnybank’s attacking core of Tom Lucas, Hayden Sargeant and Liam McNamara all performed strongly in front of their home crowd. 

The Bankers take on a red-hot Brothers side this weekend in what will be their final home game of the season.

Bond University 59 (Joey Fittock 3, Jake Upfield, Ryan Menzies, Dan Boardman, Devon Henson, George Blake, Lanchlan Connors tries; Mitch Third 7 conversions) d Sunnybank 43 (Digby Ioane 2, Liam McNamara, Dave Feao, Tom Lucas, Simana Halaifonua tries; Lucas 5 conversions; Lucas penalty)

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU