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• Trinity Major Semi-Final

A sizzling solo try by Easts flyhalf Matt Brandon sealed a 32-16 semi-final win over Brothers and a place in the 2008 Trinity Premier Grand Final.

Brandon spotted a gap in the Brothers line 30m out, hit the afterburner and stepped past two tacklers before executing a spectacular swan dive under the posts.

Unfortunately for him, Brandon had to be helped off the field straight after with a hamstring injury suffered in his jinking run to the line.

The try turned a comfortable 25-16 lead over the Minor Premiers into a match winning one, as the Tigers scored four tries to one to set up a Grand Final date with the winner of next week's preliminary final between Brothers and the powerful Sunnybank.

Andrew Walker chimed into the backline to put Herman Porter into the clear for the Tigers' opening try, and then wing Coen Ladewig brought the crowd to its feet when he intercepted a Brothers pass inside the Easts 22 and outlasted the defence in an 80 metre sprint to the opposite end of the field - all in the first 15 minutes.

Two penalties to Brothers scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin kept the minor premiers in touch and then McKibbin scored a vital try in the shadows of halftime to bring them back to 13-15 at the break.

A long range penalty by McKibbin put Brothers' noses in front, but it could just as easily been the Tigers' third try after a David Lucas intercept was pulled back for offside.

The Tigers made amends shortly after when lock Ada Preocanin powered over for a try, converted by Walker, then when Brothers backrower Jules McLaughlin was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle Walker put Easts out to a nine point lead 25-16.

When Brandon scored his spectacular try, Easts were assured of their first Premier Grand Final appearance since 2002.

Brothers coach Rob Murdoch said Easts controlled the match well while his own side had their opportunities but didn't take full advantage of them, and were let down by their discipline.

"I thought our endeavour was still pretty good, but we've probably just got to be a wee bit more disciplined - concentrating on our own game and probably not the ref's so much," Murdoch said.

"They (Easts) controlled the game, they had a really, really good kicking game. Their field position was excellent."

Easts coach Pat Richards attributed the win to the Tigers' domination of the breakdown, especially in the second half, along with the scrum and backline performance.

"I thought our scrum was excellent. The backs, when they had the pill, made inroads every time and their enthusiasm getting up off the line and working hard (in defence) meant it all fell into place," Richards said.

Richards was confident that Brandon's hamstring would be ok for the Grand Final.

"He'll be right. I think you'd have to shoot him to stop him."

Easts 32 (Coen Ladewig, Herman Porter, Adam Preocanin, Matt Brandon tries, Andrew Walker 3 con, 2 pen) d Brothers 16 (Brendan McKibbin try, 3 pen, con)

Additional reporting by Evan Shay