By TOM PRIMMER

With seven rounds now in the books, the Hospital Cup top four is beginning to take shape as we head into the final stretch towards the finals.

Premiership favourites the University of Queensland, Easts, Bond University and GPS all consolidated their spots in the top four with wins over the weekend, but with all those four sides having a bye in hand, anything could happen over the next month of rugby. 

Let’s take a look around the grounds. 

University of Queensland 36 v Brothers 31 

The University of Queensland edged out Brothers in Round Seven in what was another epic instalment of one of the Hospital Cup’s oldest and fiercest rivalries. 

The grand final rematch did not fail to live up to the hype, with Uni maintaining a slender lead for the final 20-minutes of the game to hold off the Brethren at Crosby Park.

The Heavies raced out of the blocks to lead 19-7 by the 20-minute mark, before the home side rallied to go up 24-19 at the half-time break.

Kye Oates’ superior form off the kicking tee the eventual difference, with both sides crossing for five tries in front of a strong Albion crowd.

Oates also crossed for a double, while Uni backrower Connor Vest was among the Student’s best in what was their fourth straight win.

UQ Director of Rugby, Elton Berrange, lauded his side’s form after wins over heavyweights Brothers and GPS in consecutive weeks.

“We started and finished really well,” Berrange said.

“We had a ropey period just before half time where we let Brothers in and take the lead. It’s frustrating as it’s two weeks in a row where we’ve clocked off.

“We are thrilled to take bonus point wins away from Yoku Road and Crosby Park. Both teams are very good and they present different challenges which I thought our guys adjusted well too.” 

The Brethren will be left to rue a number of mistakes in attack against a clinical UQ outfit.

Young backline stars Hudson Creighton, Nate Carroll and debutant Billy Bulley showed why the club has such faith in their abilities, all crossing for tries, while backrowers Alex Perez and Noah Nielsen were also strong.

“Uni were very good at capitalising on our errors and they won a couple of key moments when the game was in the balance at 33-31 in the second half,” Brothers head coach Anthony Mathison said. 

“I was really pleased with our willingness to play an attacking brand of rugby right to the end. 

“Our guys backed their skills and combined this with excellent intent to compete in every contest. 

“Looking ahead we will continue to focus on being more accurate with when and where we want to attack with ball in hand.”

The win locks Uni into outright into first on the ladder as they prepare to face Norths at home this week, while Brothers will take on Souths at home. 

Univeristy of Queensland 36 (Kye Oates 2, Connor Vest, Jordan Lenac, Tom Mellor tries; Oates 4 conversions, Oates 1 penalty) d Brothers 31 (Hudson Creighton 2, Paddy James, Billy Bulley, Nate Carroll tries; Rohan Saifoloi 3 conversions) 

Bond University 39 Wests 19 

Bond University flexed their muscles in with a comprehensive 39-19 victory over Wests at Sylvan Road. 

Wests had the first try of the match early, but would go onto to trail 22-7 at the half-time break as the Bond attack kicked into gear. 

The Bulldogs again had the first try of the second forty and looked to be back in the game at 27-19 with 15-minutes to play, before another late surge eventually delivered the Bullsharks a 20-point win. 

The Gold Coasters crossed for seven tries in the win, with lock Devon Henson scoring a double in what was the lock’s strongest performance of the season.

The side has the ability to score quick points from all parts of the field and have maintained second spot on the ladder as they look to break the finals drought on the Gold Coast.

Bond skipper Dan Boardman said his side’s defence set the tone for the victory on Saturday. 

“Defence has been and was key for us on the weekend,” Boardman said. 

“We gain so much confidence from our defence and will continue to build going into the bye week.

“We are building a lot of momentum I think.

“We are working really well together and are understanding how each other play which Is the important and has been key for us.”

The Bullsharks have the bye to refresh this weekend before the final stretch to the finals begins, with Wests hosting GPS in what shapes as a huge clash for the Bulldogs. 

Bond University 39 (Devon Henson 2, Spencer Jeans, Tomas Grenon, Connor Pritchard, Max Dowd, Rhian Stowers tries; Rhian Stowers, Mitch Third conversions) d Wests 19 (Penalty try, Lorenzo Skelton, Misioka Timoteo tries; Cooper Whiteside conversion) 

Easts 57 Souths 26 

Easts laid on nine tries to record a resounding 57-26 win over Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval. 

The result was almost done and dusted by the half-time break, with the Tigers charging out of the blocks to lead 38-0 with a stunning display of attacking rugby. 

The young Magpies rallied in the second 40 minutes, but it was merely consolation as the Tigers again affirmed their status as a title contender. 

Versatile outside back Dylan Taikato-Simpson crossed for a hat-trick in the win and was one of seven Easts try scorers on the day. 

The Tigers experienced heads in Ben Mowen and Aidan Toua continued to show their class, leading the backs and forwards respectively around the park, while Eli Pilz was again among his side’s best at scrumhalf.

The loss is another lesson for Souths head coach Todd Dammers and his young group, and Dammers was impressed by his sides fight back in the second half. 

“Easts showed what an exciting team they are,” Dammers said. 

“Their attack was first class on Saturday. They are a calm, well lead and coached group. They will be hard to beat this season.

“In all honesty, our first half just was not up to standard. We absolutely know that. 

“What we showed in the second half was some fight, I liked that. 

“We need to be more composed and work on our ability to shake off bad periods of play.”

The Magpies will face Brothers at Crosby Park this weekend, as the Tigers host Sunnybank at David Wilson Field. 

Easts 57 (Dylan Taikato-Simpson 3, Jack Frampton, Rhys van Nek, Eli Pilz, Shane Kennedy, Matt Smit, Landon Hayes tries; Pilz 5, Kennedy conversions) d Souths 26 (Billy Rutherford, Theo Fourie, Liam Fletcher, Jonah Pologa tries; Luke Samoa 3 conversions) 

GPS 47 Norths 20 

GPS returned to their top form over the weekend, running out 47-20 victors over Norths at Hugh Courtney Oval.

The Gallopers led by just 21-15 at half-time, before a strong display in the second stanza eventually delivered the side a 27-point win. 

Speedster Josh Collins scored a hat-trick of tries for the side, while forward stalwarts Nick Richards and Jamie Rickward impressed with their work rate around the park.

Jeeps are now facing a severe lack of front rowers, with a huge number of props succumbing to injury, including hooker Maile Ngauamo who was injured in the warmup on Saturday. 

The depletion gave reserve grade front rower Josh Tuqiri the chance to step up and step up he did, delivering a man of the match performance with an impressive scrummaging and carrying display.

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo was impressed with his sides’ ability to overcome their injury struggles.

“We showed better composure and managed the game much better than the last two or three weeks. 

“We were up against it with all our front row reserves injured in the reserve grade game and our warmup so our starting guys had no choice but to play 80-minute. 

“When we lost Maile Ngauamo in the warmup the group had a quick chat and it was all about adapting and finding solutions. The energy was special. 

“With three of our senior hookers out and having lost seven props this season it was a challenging situation with Josh Tuqiri stepping in and delivering a man of the match performance in what was his Premier Grade starting debut. 

“I was very impressed with how the boys handled this challenge over the last three weeks.”

Injured Norths fullback Nick Chapman praised the performance of Jeeps. 

“They used their strength which was their size and worked up the field close to the line then just picked and drive to the posts,” Chapman said.

“They then started to play out wide a bit more and had a crack which opened up some space around the field for us.

“We still need better communication in defence, we let in some easy tries.

“Our outside-centre Reece Tapine played a killer game with his fast feet and offload abilities, also our flanker Nathan Tweedy is an absolute work horse and got us some crucial turnovers.”

Norths face ladder-leaders UQ in St Lucia this weekend, while Jeeps travel to Toowong to face Wests. 

GPS 57 (Josh Collins 3, unknown player, Jamie Rickward, Emosi Tuqiri, Ratu Vio Batibasaga tries; AJ Alatimu 6 conversions) d Norths 20 (Cody Blackhurst, Reece Tapine, Kenneth Taviri, Jon Reuben tries)