Round 7 of the GPS season delivered another weekend of attacking rugby, with results making it clear who had a strong three week break.

Riverview continued their dominant run, dominating Joeys in the traditional rivalry to move clear at the top while the visitors slipped to the bottom of the table. 

Kings again proved too strong for Scots, combining a powerful forward effort with their backline flexing their muscles in front of a home crowd.

But the match of the round belonged to Newington and Shore, who produced another extraordinary shootout. Shore only have themselves to blame receiving three yellow cards throughout the game allowing a stunning comeback from the home side.

Kings 45 – 14 Scots

Kings for the second time this season dismantled Scots, making it two dominant wins over their rivals this season. The opening stages were competitive before a poorly timed tip tackle saw Scots captain Oscar Tremlett sent to the sin bin, leaving his side a man down and Kings quick to attack. Their rolling maul produced the opening try on 15 minutes before No.8 Toby Davies exploded down the sideline with scintillating pace to double the advantage.

Scots eventually found themselves in Kings territory but two unforced errors ended promising attacks, before centre Talen Risati produced brilliant footwork to dive under the posts. Kings added another try to lead 26-0 at half-time, with their defensive consistency matching an impressive attacking display.

Nick Platis struck in the corner after the break to kill any hope of a comeback, pushing the margin to 38 points. Scots finally responded through a hard-earned pick-and-go try to Declan Kenna after their forwards went to work from a rolling maul. Centre Sam Large then produced the highlight of the afternoon, breaking free for a dazzling 60-metre solo try.

Kings had the final say, finishing 45-14 winners. Their forwards dominated the contact battle throughout, while the kicking and passing of their backline was arguably their best performance of the season.

Riverview 64 – 17 Joeys

The opening two minutes set the tone, with Joeys unable to escape their own half before Riverview won a penalty five metres out. One phase later, second rower Hunter Reich crashed over for the opener.

Joeys hit back against the run of play when a loose cut-out pass from fullback Jack Plamondon was intercepted by Riley Bourne, who sprinted 65 metres to score. Riverview centre Taj Scarr immediately restored the lead, stepping inside a defender before finding 20 metres of open space to the line.

A yellow card to the Joeys forwards, after they repeatedly impeded Riverview’s rolling maul, made matters worse. The home side scored twice during the ten-minute period to lead 26-7. 

Joeys regained some momentum after returning to 15 players, with penalties in the Riverview 22m eventually leading to an audacious grubber from flyhalf Thomas Bayada for Bourne’s second.

Riverview responded before half-time through Ned Atrill to lead 33-12 at the break. Scarr then grabbed his second after plucking a cut-out pass from the air and racing untouched under the posts. Another yellow card, this time to Riverview second rower Tomma Tancred for a no-arms tackle, did little to slow the home side.

Flyhalf Billy Bowen continued to torment the Joeys defence, creating space for flanker Sam Bull to score. Atrill then produced an outrageous acrobatic finish in the corner, although he appeared to have stepped into touch, before Joeys scored a late consolation. Riverview still had time for one more, completing a dominant 64-17 win. 

Newington 50 – 45 Shore

Shore capitalised on Newington errors to start the game with back to back tries. First through a clever tap-and-go penalty that sent flanker Sam Mackellar over untouched. Sinclair Lyne then doubled the advantage with a rare pick-and-go try for a backman. 

Shore hooker Henry Baxter was later yellow-carded for an overly aggressive tip tackle, allowing Newington to respond through Timoci Nagusa and Anakin Richardson, who finished a brilliant break and offload from Ofu Latu.

Both sides scored again before half-time, with Shore leading 21-17 thanks to Luke Maclennan’s accurate goal-kicking. Shore then exploded after the break, scoring through short side attack and a perfectly executed lineout move for captain Darcy Squire to stretch the lead to 33-17.

Newington finally found rhythm. Captain Isaiah Sheck scored off the back of some brilliant footwork and a pop pass from Kden Carter to score under the posts before Nagusa crossed for his second. Shore then lost another player to the sin bin for a professional foul, and Newington immediately capitalised, Richardson scoring his second from a short-side move to put the hosts ahead 36-33.

Shore fullback Charlie Burey created a moment of individual brilliance, grubbering through and setting up a try to reclaim the lead. Twenty seconds later, Newington hit back when Kupu Manuofetoa charged down the restart and followed his own work to score. 

Shore briefly regained the lead but received a third yellow card for another tip tackle. Newington took advantage, with flanker Hunter Hall crashing over from short range to complete an extraordinary 50-45 comeback victory.