Someone please post a review of the Easts match, that is a fantastic result!
Up the tigers
Easts put out one of their gutsiest performances in recent years against Brothers infront of a large and vocal Bottomley Park crowd.
From the outset it was clear neither side was going to give the other any easy points, with brutal defence and good discipline keeping the scores 3-3 for most of the first period. A tight arm wrestle in the forwards but the Dallan Murphy controlled Brothers backline looked dangerous, creating many half chances. Right before the break, thanks to some great work from Tigers center Skelton, hooker Sean Fell barged over for Easts first and only try of the match. Brandon added the extra's for a 10-3 scoreline. Before the end of the half, Reds winger Dom Shipperley made an impressive break down the right hand side beating numerous defenders, before young Tigers scrumhalf Tomlinson produced a great cover tackle to knock him into touch 5m out.
After the break Brothers controlled territory and possession for almost the whole second period, with Murphy and Shipperley looking dangerous. They finally went over for a well worked try to equal the scores. Easts rarley made it into the Filth's half but Krelle added a 40m penalty before Murphy returned to favour soon after.
The crowd really lifted in the last quater of the game, as the Easts forwards, lead by blindside Bertini and props Bermingham and Murphy, putting on some brutal defence. Finally a penalty was awarded after a massive scrum took the feed off Brothers and Krelle kicked over a monster 50m to send the crowd into a fit. In a tense finish the tigers managed to hold on despite another Shipperley raid.
Great win for the Tigers, one of the toughest games of club footy I've seen in recent years.
Easts best: Bertini, Murphy, Bermingham
Brothers: Shipperley, Murphy
Just a few side notes aswell. I'm not sure why Felsman wasn't brought on for Brothers, winger Pyers added nothing and made a few obvious mistakes, Felsman's x-factor could of proved beneficial. Also young flanker Luke Beauchamp as brilliant for the Filth at line-out time, great jumper.
For Easts, Matt Brandon has been out of form in the past two games, he is crabbing across field too often, cramping up his outside runners. But I've been told he is pushing through injury and shouldn't be playing at all, so credit to him. Easts scrum, in particular their props has been great of late, Michael Bermingham is loving the physicality of first grade rugby.
