Not even losing halfback Cameron Breust in the warm up was going stop the winning roll of the Brethren on Saturday.

They’ve now won five of their six games to start the season, including four in a row, to set up a mouth watering clash with ladder leaders Southcity next week.

Coach Terry Westblade was thrilled with his team’s performance in the second half as they put on 13 unanswered points to take another win.

“It was really good and I was really pleased with them,” Westblade said.

“I wasn’t necessarily pleased in the first half but we came out on top.”

Breust succumbed to an ankle issue in the warm up, and with Brothers already without Ed Ansell (shoulder), it forced a reshuffle just before kick off.

Brad Cain moved into the playmaker’s role and with the return of Will Merritt and Clifford Morris from injury Brothers were able to inflict the second loss for the season on the Bulldogs.

Merritt was a surprise return after fracturing his cheekbone in round one and came off the bench and into the centres.

Cootamundra centre Matt Forsyth opened the scoring before Brothers hit back through Harold Kirby.

A penalty goal from Forsyth saw the teams level going into half-time.

Things were locked at 6-all after a tight first half before James Hay scored two tries to give Brothers the advantage.

Peter Little then slotted a field goal to ice the win.

Brothers had been being ugly earlier in the season but their consistency was what pleased Westblade the most.

“I thought we had better control in the second half,” he said.

“In the first half we gave away cheap possession and it was quite costly but in saying that I was quite happy with their recovery and their willingness to dig in and cover for the mistakes they had made.

“We get making them but the second half was better.”

Cain impressed after getting the late chance in the starting team while Aaron Wynne and Hay were strong again in the forwards once again.

Westblade expects another tough test against the Bulls while Cootamundra will be looking to rebound against another high flying side Junee.

It was just the Bulldogs second loss of the season but they are yet to come away with a win against a fellow top four side with their other loss coming against Southcity.