The Academy management of coaches Sean Houghton, Dave Brown and manager Anthony ‘Unders‘ Underwood named a 20 strong squad featuring 8 players on debut in a Brothers shirt. Many of the debutants featured in the Origin fixture last month with this game being a natural progression towards Septembers Inter Services. On the day Fergie Donaldson skippered the team with Elliott Richardson as his vice-captain.
The opposition was nominally an Eagles side although by agreement with RNRL the home team featured players from across the Southern Rugby league group of teams. A hot dry afternoon with very little breeze greeted the players so it was going to be a good test of stamina and fitness throughout the game.

The game got off to a flying start with the both teams scoring early doors, scrum half Alfie Mitchell opened the RN account touching down left of the posts after good work in midfield by prop Tom Bryce 0:4. This score was cancelled out a couple of minutes later, Liam Frondgoun for the ‘Eagles’ finished off a move for his team who made the most of a fumbled kick-off to square the game up at 4:4. The Eagles struck again in similar fashion a couple of minutes later Bromley based Frondgoun again scoring out on his sides left wing 8:4. On the 20 mark RNRL took the lead for the first time in the match, hooker Regan Hargreave powered through the Eagles midfield to feed Johnny Stoppard who shrugged off the Eagles defence for a great try under the posts, straightforward conversion for Gwydion Jenkins, 8:10 into the second quarter. Concerted pressure on the Elmbridge line but no way through until the ball was spun out to the left wing beating the compressed Eagles defence for Will Lowe to score a spectacular touch down easing the RN further ahead 8:14. Another try from deep on 33 minutes, Haregreave once more takes the ball out of his half and into Eagles territory, Alfie Mitchell on his shoulder takes the move on to score his second of the match, Jenkins converts 8:20. Into the last couple of minutes before the break and RN have some defending to do, great pressure by the Eagles is stopped by the RN defence who in turn retrieve the ball and head for Eagles territory. Working hard in midfield the Brothers advance with Johnny Stoppard once again using his strength to break the Eagles line and score his second, another straightforward 2 pointer for Jenkins. 8:24 and that’s the half, not perfect by the Brothers but great defence when needed with some excellent attacking play gives them a well deserved lead.
Barely 3 minutes into the second half full back Gwydion Jenkins goes solo from 35 m out, touches down under the posts making his own conversion an easy one 8:30. More pressure from the Eagles is repelled and the Brothers return the pressure with interest, Charlie Ransom spotting a gap in the defensive line to score his first of the match and with a cracking conversion by Jenkins the Brothers well in command now at 8:36. Into the final quarter and a brilliant team effort from deep is finished off by skipper for the day Fergie Donaldson another touchdown under the posts gives Jenkins another straightforward conversion into the 40’s, 8:42. All the brothers now, more pressure across the face of the defence sees the ball go to Ransom who straightens the play up to score left of the posts, conversion good 8:48. RNRL hit the 50 point mark with a try for Dan Cannon out on the left wing, no con but its 8:52. Last score for the Brothers and Luke Copsey who crashes through the tiring Eagles defence and with a great conversion by Dan Cannon that was the game 8:58 at the whistle.
Great effort by both sides on a very hot afternoon with some of the Eagles going on to play a second game barely an hour later! For the Bothers, a good win with the new faces showing up well for coach Sean Houghton. Next up of course it’s the RAF at Burnaby Road on 13th September!