Gundagai overcame a 14-0 deficit to stop the nine-game streak of Brothers at Anzac Park on Sunday.
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The Tigers fired in three tries in the last 22 minutes to take a 18-14 victory and move to third on the Group Nine ladder.
Despite losing Tyron Gorman and James Curgenven by the midway point of the first half, the Tigers kept fighting to pull off a dramatic escape.
They dominated from the outset but struggled to convert the field possession into find a way through the Brethren’s defences.
After a number of missed opportunities it wasn’t until Dylan Cole scored off a James Luff in the 58th minute kick that the Tigers broke through.
They scored twice more in the next 14 minutes to hit the front and held their nerve for a crucial win over the former ladder leaders.
Captain-coach James Smart was thrilled with the fighting performance.
“We knew that if we kept at it our luck would turn and to the boys credit they just hung in,” Smart said.
“It was a really, really gutsy win and we needed it.
“We needed to win that game so from where we were at the beginning of the year it is just awesome.”
Brothers got on the board first, when Harold Kirby scored after 11 minutes, and all three of their tries came against the run of play.
Cade Price scored a 90-metre try on the stroke of half-time as Brothers swooped on an errant offload from Smart.
The Wagga side then went out to a 14-0 lead when Cameron Breust finished off a 55-metre effort started when it looked like Brothers would be trapped on the last inside their own half only for Keifer Power to break free of Noa Fotu’s tackle attempt and kick ahead for his halfback.
Coach Terry Westblade was left disappointed by his team’s lack of control.
“It was a poor effort I thought,” Westblade said.
“Our ability to manage the game was really poor.
“We were down on troops at time but for 32 minutes in that first half they were more or less attacking our line and we couldn’t use the breeze.”
Westblade said it was a bonus they were only beaten by six points however they’ve now been replaced by Southcity on top of the ladder.
Gundagai had a slice of luck leading to Cole’s try off the second kick on the play, before Jake Smart broke through two tacklers to score with 10 remaining.
Brothers kicked the restart out on the full and James Smart dived over to put the Tigers in front with eight left.
They finished with only one fit player on the bench with Gorman and Damian Willis both transported to hospital.
However the tough win was enough to see the Tigers move to third on percentage with four games left to play.
Smart believes the way they won while give the team plenty of confidence going forward and is looking to extend their run against Junee on Sunday.
The Diesels are fourth but are coming off a shock loss against Temora.