By Liam Cook

UQ and Wests’ claimed important victories in round fourteen while Easts’ and Bond are nipping at the heels of the top four following wins on the weekend. 

Catch a review of the action below.

Brothers 34 v UQ 42

UQ defeated Brothers at Crosby Park on Saturday to enhance their chances of a top four finish.

The fierce rival’s traded points early in the first half as UQ took a 21-17 advantage into the main break. Trailing 10-7 midway through the opening stanza, UQ skipper Pat Morrey and prop Isaac Aedo Kailea scored consecutive tries to give the visitors the ascendancy. Brothers’ skipper Paddy James brought his side back within four points at half time by setting up try scoring machine Billy Bulley.

UQ separated themselves from the Brethren with two quick tries to open the second forty. Brothers’ kept toiling away and brought the margin back to eight but it proved too little too late.

The Student’s move into third on the ladder ahead of a meeting with top four hopeful Easts while Brothers’ head into the bye in second spot.

Wests 57 v Sunnybank 24

Wests’ piled on the points in a convincing win over Sunnybank at Sci-fleet Stadium over the weekend.

A special individual effort from Carter Gordon opened the afternoon’s scoring for Wests in the first minute. Magical David Feliuia Lene hands set up winger Puni Aupuni to square things up early for the visitors before Wests’ scrum dominance saw them kick away to a 26-12 halftime lead.

The second half was filled with enterprising backline play from both sides. Wests’ centres combined for the opening two tries of the half before Sunnybank showed their attacking flair. Bulldog’s winger Ben Navosailagi put the jets on to seal the comfortable win in the 73^rd minute.

Wests’ remain atop the ladder and play GPS in a big clash next week while Sunnybank will meet Norths.

Easts 38 v Souths 22

Easts’ top four hope’s are still alive after an important win against Souths at Bottomley Park on Saturday.

The home side made a hot start with three tries in the opening twenty minutes and led 21-8 at the interval. Skipper Tom Milosevic set the tone early with a five pointer before Eli Pilz played a big hand in the Tiger’s other scores.

Zac Shepperd’s try and Meli Dreu’s solo effort put the result to bed quickly in the second half. Souths’ remained resolute and clawed their way back from a twenty-seven-point deficit to within fifteen at the final siren.

Easts’ play UQ next weekend in what shapes a season defining contest while Souths will confront a determined Bond outfit.

Bond 46 v Norths 10

Bond are still in touch with the top four after a comprehensive victory over Norths on the Gold Coast over the weekend.

The Bull Shark’s displayed their attacking prowess in the opening half and led 22-0 at the break. New faces’ Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Hamish Roberts were very influential in Bond’s long-range attacking opportunities, both scoring doubles.

Norths’ made it more of a contest in the second forty as they added two tries to Bond’s four. The Bull Shark’s 79^th minute try epitomised the entertaining display they put on for the entire contest with debutant Roberts’ flick pass to Samusamuvodre resulting in a try to flanker Connor Pritchard.

Bond’s top four ambitions will be on the line against Easts next Saturday while Norths will look for the second victory of the year against Sunnybank.