BROTHERS coach Adam Perry can see improvement in his team but says there's still plenty of work to do as the Wagga club battles for the Group Nine premiership.

They scored their second win for the season yesterday by holding off a persistent Southcity to win the local derby 26-24 at Harris Park.

It was all Brothers early on when wingers Matt Ward and Ed Ansell each crossed the line in the opening 10 minutes to shoot out to a 10-0 lead.

Ansell's try was a gift handed to him by the Bulls, who lost the ball off a Brothers kick just one set after Ward had crossed.

Southcity managed to hit back through speedy fullback Tristan Dickson eight minutes later but Ward scored his second try soon after in the same fashion as his first.

An impressive solo effort from Southcity five-eighth Nathan Rose handed him a try and he converted, but Brothers fullback Matt Morris crossed before half time to ensure a 20-10 lead at the break.

It was tough going in the second half and both teams had their chances to score, but it was tall Bulls prop Nick Skinner who broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute to get his team within four points.

Brayden Sharrock crossed for Brothers and then another solo effort and chip-and-chase from Rose had Southcity score with six minutes on the clock.

It was Brothers' game to lose, and Southcity looked like making a last-ditch comeback when it had repeat sets inside its attacking half.

But the Bulls couldn't quite get over the line.

Perry admitted his heart was in his throat for the last few minutes of the game.

"It was a win, we did it the hard way and the boys gave me a bit of a heart attack but it was good to get a win," Perry said.

"A couple of little mistakes, we're getting better at it though.

"(It is) good to get over these guys, they've been one of the benchmarks for the last few years."

Perry was pleased to see his players learn from last week's loss to Albury but says there's plenty of fine-tuning needed.

"We played well in patches but probably not for as long as I would have liked to," he said.

"I thought our defence was a lot better today in terms of contact and intensity.

"But we still missed quite a few tackles.

"There's quite a bit to work on there but it improved which was pleasing."

For Brothers it was big forward Sione Niuila who provided plenty of go-forward, while fullback Matt Morris was solid and halves partners Joe Williams and Josh Trindall were dangerous with ball in hand.

Skinner was outstanding for Southcity with his hard running and work in defence, while halfback and coach Daniel Fitzhenry gave his team every chance.