Brothers’ late score breaks Uni hearts
BROTHERS held on to prevent what would have been the upset of the season in the latest round of Townsville and Districts Rugby League.
The Brethren emerged from Saturday’s game at JCU with a 30- 28 win over University thanks to a late try from interchange forward Faron Morris, breaking the hearts of Saints supporters.
Saturday’s result was one of three TDRL A grade games separated by two points, with Herbert River scoring a last- gasp 20- 18 win over Char- ters Towers, and Western Lions edging past Burdekin 22- 20 in Ayr.
All three winning teams retain a share of top spot, although Herbert River still hold a superior for and against differential.
Centrals remain on the charge after scoring a third consecutive win, thumping Norths yesterday 72- 12.
Brothers coach Dave Ackers knew his team was lucky to win at JCU.
Uni had 30 seconds to conjure up a winner after Morris’s late try and their short restart was controversially ruled knocked- on by Brothers.
They almost achieved the fairytale when a cutout pass found Daniel Nelliman, only for the ball to go dead.
Had the ball found its mark Uni would likely have posted their second win of the year.
“We made it hard for from the start,” Ackers said.
“We didn’t turn up with a good attitude and no matter where you’re sitting on the ladder that’s what happens.
“That’s the beauty of sport, anyone can beat anyone on their day and we were just lucky that we got over the line in the end.”
Brothers, who were missing seven players including Tennyson Elliott, Jack Kelleher and Sam Foster, led 18- 16 at halftime after tries from fullback Brenn Foster, who bagged three, and a brace from winger Andrew Willis, while Uni got their early points through winger MickealSibley, Luke Cooke and hooker Shane Hackett.
Lester Hero scored for Uni five minutes after the break when he pounced on a grubber kick but Broth- ourselves ers responded when hooker Jake Collins burrowed over the tryline from dummy half.
The Saints began to dream when Hackett got his second with just over 10 minutes remaining, running down the blind side and scoring off an attacking scrum to hand Uni a 28- 24 lead, but it was Morris who delivered the killer blow after Brothers earned repeat sets.
“It was very heartbreaking, considering we had three blokes out, one to food poisoning, and we only had three on the bench, but it was a great effort and we took it right to a top club,” Uni coach Tony Martin said.
“If we can take that effort to Brothers, who have only lost one game all season, hopefully it gives us that belief to fire up and win some games.”