Hyderabad Heroes delivered a commanding 45-7 victory over Bengaluru Bravehearts on Monday, 22 June, on Day 7 of Rugby Premier League (RPL) Season 2 at the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi (GMC) Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. The dominant display helped the Heroes bounce back emphatically after a narrow defeat the previous evening and kept their playoff ambitions firmly on track.

How the Match Unfolded

Maurice Longbottom opened the scoring late in the first quarter, setting the tone for a one-sided contest. Taitaifono Tavita then took control, crossing for a try and setting up Ravuama Seruvakula in the second period to extend Hyderabad's lead. Bengaluru Bravehearts struggled to breach the Heroes' organised defence throughout.

Sumit Kumar Roy and Diego Ardao added further scores as Hyderabad's pace and structure proved too much for the visitors. Tavita struck again in the fourth quarter, and a late drop goal from Longbottom completed a comprehensive 38-point winning margin.

What the Heroes' Camp Said

Captain Manuel Moreno expressed satisfaction with the collective effort. 'Really happy with today's win. The entire team has played extremely well today and have really taken up even more responsibility in their own roles. We've had a solid campaign so far and are looking forward to carrying the momentum in the latter half of the league stage,' he said.

Head Coach DJ Forbes framed the result as a measured response to the previous night's setback. 'Today's win was a great way to bounce back, and I think you could tell from the performance that we were still hurting and wanting to right a few wrongs after last night's game. That was some of the best 7s our boys have played and a great way to get our campaign back on track against a quality side. The goal now is to qualify in the top 4 as soon as possible to secure the playoff opportunity,' Forbes said.

Context: Day 6 Results

The previous day's action had seen Mumbai Dreamers edge out Hyderabad Heroes 12-10 in a top-of-the-table clash, extending Mumbai's unbeaten run to five matches — the longest in the league. Lucas Mignot scored a late try in extra time to seal that win after Diego Ardao had twice given Hyderabad the lead and Guillaume Bouche levelled for Mumbai. Separately, Bengaluru Bravehearts had beaten Chennai Bulls on Day 6, making their Day 7 collapse against Hyderabad all the more notable.

Playoff Picture

With the league stage entering its second half, the race for the top four is intensifying. Mumbai Dreamers lead the standings with an unblemished record, while Hyderabad Heroes have signalled their intent to secure a playoff berth at the earliest opportunity. The result also dents Bengaluru Bravehearts' momentum after their Day 6 win, raising questions about their consistency.