Brothers moved clear at the top of the Group Nine ladder with a thrilling win over Southcity.
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There was plenty of hype leading into the top of the table clash at Equex Centre and the two teams delivered with a 20-18 nailbiter on Sunday.
In the end a penalty goal Harold Kirby was all that separated the two sides.
The Brethren have now won six of their first seven games of the season and coach Terry Westblade was thrilled with their defensive performance against the premiers.
“It was a good effort and I am really happy for them,” Westblade said.
“I thought they all tired really hard, all played for each other and there are so good signs.”
In an ominous warning for their Group Nine rivals, Westblade believes there is the potential for a lot more to come from his side.
“They throw plenty at us but I said to them ‘I still don’t think we are playing our very best’,” he said.
“There are so many errors in us, but they keep covering up for each other and one day will get their execution really right and play really well.
“When that happens I’m not sure.”
Southcity scored less than two minutes into the game when towering centre Usaia O’Sullivan scored off a kick, but the Bulls weapon was well handled by Ethan McKenzie throughout the day.
The two teams went try for try in the first half before Kirby’s penalty gave Brothers a 14-12 lead at the break.
Peter Little put the Brethren out to a 20-12 lead when he scored 13 minutes into the second stanza.
Tim Hurst got his team within two points with six to play, but Southcity couldn’t find another way through.
The Bulls had won their first five games of the season before back-to-back losses to crosstown rivals Kangaroos and Brothers.
While captain-coach Kyle McCarthy thought it was a better effort than the one against Kangaroos, he admitted there is plenty of work to be done.
“It was an improvement, so I’m happy about that, but we weren’t quite there which was disappointing,” McCarthy said.
“We were out played and come second.”
McCarthy believes the team is coming in and out of games mentally.
It is something that has proven costly in the part fortnight.
He is looking for his team to have more polish on their plays.
“We played up tempo and moved the ball well, which was pleasing, but they slowed it down and were able to stay in the fight for the whole 80 which was to our demise,” he said.
Southcity will be looking to respond when they face Junee at Laurie Daley Oval on Sunday while Brothers have road trip to tackle winless Young.