Western Sydney continued their rise up the Shute Shield ladder with an impressive victory over Norths in round nine, while a new name stole the show for the Rats in Warringah’s victory over Hunter. 

Elsewhere Manly held on to beat Easts, Uni were too good for Gordon, Randwick snuck past West Harbour and Eastwood beat Souths. 

Catch up on all the weekend’s action below. 

Western Sydney 34-33 Northern Suburbs

Western Sydney once again reminded the competition that they are a serious premiership threat with an impressive 34-33 victory over Northern Suburbs. 

The big, abrasive Two Blues forwards, led by lock Manasa Rokosuka, dominated in the first half crossing twice from close range to take a 19-14 lead to the half time break. 

Norths had few answers for the Two Blues from close to the tryline and trailed 34-14 following Two Blues’ tries to hooker JP Sauni and lock Tuitakau Kioa

The Shoremen hit back with a try from a maul, then closed the gap to just one point after two long range tries to winger Jamie Mazzarol-Kotz.

But Western Sydney held on to claim their third straight victory at Eric Tweedale Stadium and leapfrogged Gordon back into the top eight. 

Warringah 42-21 Hunter

Warringah flyhalf Connor Hickey produced a first half masterclass to set up the Rats’ 42-21 victory over Hunter at Rat Park on Saturday. 

Hickey was brilliant, setting up two tries and scoring a third to help Warringah to a 28-0 first half lead. 

But the Hunter forwards responded and crossed twice to reduce the deficit to 14 points at half time. 

Hickey scored his second try of the afternoon minutes into the second half with a simple dummy from an attacking Warringah scrum to extend his sides lead. 

The Hunter forwards kept the visitors in the match and set up a try from a tighthead scrum, but the Rats’ bonus point victory was sealed minutes later following Esera Chee Kam’s second five pointer. 

Hickey produced one of the best individual performances of the 2022 Shute Shield season and has well and truly made the Rats’ No.10 jersey his own. 

Manly 25-22 Eastern Suburbs

Poor discipline cost Eastern Suburbs in another tight loss, this time to Manly on Ladies Day at Woollahra Oval. 

The Marlins’ forwards continued their impressive 2022 form, scoring three unanswered tries in the first half to claim a 22-0 lead. 

The Marlins third try came from a well worked lineout play, that saw hooker Aaron Blacklock score in the corner. 

Easts hit back with a try to winger Sam Fogarty on the stroke of half time, then dominated possession and territory in the second half as the Beasties worked their way back into the match. 

Centre Mosese Tuipulotu barged over from close range to reduce the deficit before Sam Fogarty scored his second try to bring the Beasties within eight points of Manly. 

But a stupid penalty for hands in the ruck gifted Manly a penalty goal in front of the posts and a 10 point lead in the 65th minute

Easts continued to attack in the final 10 minutes and eventually scored after the full time siren, but it was too little, too late as the Beasties fell short again. 

Incredibly, after starting the year as one of the competition favourites, Easts have won just two of their first nine matches and sit in 10th spot. 

Manly remain in equal first, level with Eastwood and Sydney Uni on 35 competition points. 

Sydney Uni 27-19 Gordon

Sydney University were forced to work for their victory over a resilient Gordon outfit at Chatswood Oval. 

The Students started brilliantly and led 14-0 inside the opening 10 minutes following tries to halfback Henry Robertson and lock Zac Von Appen. 

Gordon opened their account with a long range try, set up by Alesana Pohla and scored by fullback Robbie McIntosh. 

But Uni took control of the match, scoring two tries from their dominant driving maul to lead 24-7 at the break. 

Gordon hit back with a try from a maul early in the second half, and reduced the deficit to just five points when scrumhalf Harry Emery reached out to score following a line out close to Uni’s line. 

But with the match in the balance, Sydney Uni prop Charlie Hancock was quick to the breakdown and secured a crucial penalty for the visitors in front of the posts. 

George Pullman kicked the penalty goal to seal a 27-19 victory

Randwick 20-17 West Harbour

Randwick held off a brave 14-man West Harbour outfit under lights to secure a three point victory and a spot in the top eight. 

The Galloping Greens raced away to a 17-3 lead in the first half following a classy individual try to Ben Houston and a double to Christian Yassmin. 

Yassmin has now scored 11 tries in the opening nine rounds. 

A red card to West Harbour back Joseva Vunisa for a high shot on a falling attacker forced the Pirates to play the remaining 45 minutes a man down. 

But that seemed to boost the home side, who scored on either side of the half time break to level the scores at 17-17. 

The Pirates missed long range attempts at both penalty goal and field goal in an effort to take the lead, before Randwick kicked their first attempt in the 76th minute to move three points ahead. 

The visitors then controlled possession in the closing minutes to secure a hard fought win. 

Eastwood 36-18 Southern Districts

Eastwood produced a gritty performance to beat Souths 36-18 at Forshaw and secure top spot on the Shute Shield ladder. 

Souths led early, following two yellow cards to Eastwood and took 13-6 lead into the half time break following a try from a driving maul in the 28th minute. 

Eastwood hit back and levelled the scores two minutes into the second half, then parked themselves deep inside Southern Districts territory for the majority of the second stanza. 

Discipline cost the Rebels and Eastwood kicked three unanswered penalty goals to take a 22-13 lead. 

A yellow card to Rebels No.6 Josh Bokser in the 76th minute gave the visitors a further advantage and flanker Ratu Tuisese barged over from close range soon after to secure the victory. 

Both sides scored again in the final minutes but the result was never in doubt as Eastwood claimed their third straight win. 

Souths remain in 11th spot with just two wins in 2022.