By Casey O'Connor
Wattles rebounded from the shock of their loss in round eight to score a comprehensive win over Brothers last weekend. The 32-12 win ensured Wattles retained the Dan Ryan Memorial Shield and remain at the top of the TRL table as they head into their bye this weekend.
In wet, miserable and testing conditions at Glenholme Park Wattles dominated.
Wattles racked up eight tries to Brothers two and looked a far more dangerous outfit than at their previous outing in Gatton. There had been a lot of talk among the players during the week around their poor completion rate against Gatton and they certainly stepped their performance up a notch on Saturday.
Michael Marshall added two tries to his season tally and opened the scoring on Saturday with the first of his tries in the fifth minute.
Brothers hit back with a converted try before he inform TRL leading try scorer Braydon Wilson scored a first half hat trick to send his side to the half time break with a 20-6 half time lead.
The visitors picked up where they left off in the second half extending the lead to 28-6 on the back of tries to Nick van der Poel and Nathan Gaulton.
Brothers hit back with a converted try but the writing was on the board.
Braydon Wilson put the game beyond the reach of the home side when out stepped the Brothers defence to score his fourth try for the game and taking his season tally to 17. The normally accurate Wattles kickers had an off day on Saturday unable to nail one conversion but in the end the comprehensive win has Wattles sitting on 14 points equal with the Cowboys but ahead thanks to for and against differential.
With a bye this weekend, the Cowboys breathing down their necks and Valleys only one point further afield Wattles and their supporters will be closely watching the outcome of games in round 10 as they look to secure a spot in the Madsen Rasmussen trophy final which will be played after round 11.
In other matches played at Glenholme Park Wattles had a 28-16 win in Reserve Grade. In the Under 18 game honours went to Brothers with a 24-10 victory.
A grade: Wattles 32 (Braydon Wilson 4, Michael Marshall 2, Nick Van Der Poel, Nathan Gaulton tries) d Brothers 12 (Alex McErlean, Tom Taylor tries; Wally Pegler 2 goals).
