Friday night marked the beginning of the TDRU Colts Finals Series, with last year's grand finalists, Brothers and Teachers West, meeting once again in a highly anticipated Preliminary Final. With a place in this weekend's Grand Final against North Ward on the line, both sides produced an entertaining contest packed with skill, physicality, and determination.
The match was an exciting spectacle from the opening whistle, with both teams fielding full 15-a-side squads. Early exchanges were tightly contested as both defensive lines stood strong. Teachers West impressed with their ability to force Brothers into touch on multiple occasions, using excellent body position to regain possession.
Despite the Doggies' defensive efforts, Brothers struck first through Henry Chin, who crossed for the opening try of the match. Teachers West responded almost immediately, with centre Luke Madsen crashing over after a powerful run. Charlie Hood added the extras to give Teachers West a 7-5 lead.
The restart battle became a feature of the game, with both teams displaying impressive kick-off skills and making possession difficult to predict. Brothers managed to build pressure deep inside Teachers West territory and capitalised on a series of errors from the Doggies. Number 8 Hunter Wallace powered over the line, and a successful conversion from Zavier Mitchell pushed Brothers ahead 12-7.
Both teams continued to impress at the breakdown, securing their own ball and producing strong ruck work throughout the contest. Teachers West regained the lead in the 17th minute when Samson Kelemete proved too strong close to the line, crashing over for a try. Hood's conversion extended the lead to 14-12.
As halftime approached, Brothers found themselves camped on the Teachers West line following a charged-down exit kick. The bouncing ball eventually fell kindly for Hunter Wallace, who claimed his second try of the evening to restore Brothers' advantage.
However, Teachers West would have the final say before the break. After winning back possession from a Brothers scrum, the Doggies worked through several phases before Luke Madsen burrowed over for his second try of the night. Charlie Hood maintained his perfect record with the boot, sending Teachers West into halftime leading 21-17.
Brothers took the field with renewed energy in the second half. After several strong attacking phases, slick hands found winger Lachlan Rosemond, who finished brilliantly in the corner to reclaim the lead.
Teachers West continued to fight hard, showcasing their dominant scrum and earning opportunities through penalties and strong forward play. However, Brothers' defensive line held firm whenever the Doggies threatened.
The Brethren soon extended their advantage through hooker Cooper Eastlake, who crossed after sustained pressure. Mitchell again converted successfully to push the lead further.
Momentum remained with Brothers when Giann Moody-Moxon secured an important turnover. A well-executed lineout and quick hands across the backline found Rosemond once more, the winger showed great footwork to beat defenders and score his second try under the posts. Mitchell's conversion gave Brothers valuable breathing room.
Teachers West refused to go away and found a second-half response through Jeremiah Neli Lilo, who crashed over after sustained pressure from a driving maul. With around ten minutes remaining, the contest remained alive as both teams traded possession and momentum.
Fatigue began to play a role in the closing stages, leading to errors from both sides. Brothers, however, maintained their composure and controlled the final moments after securing a crucial turnover in the dying stages.
When the final whistle sounded, Brothers had secured a hard-fought 36-26 victory over their rivals, earning a place in this Saturday's Colts Grand Final against North Ward. Brothers will now turn their attention to North Ward as they look to complete their finals campaign and claim the 2026 TDRU Colts Premiership.
