The 2018 finalists have been decided with two rounds remaining but there’s still plenty of play for in the final fortnight of the regular season.

Catch up on all the action from five quality games played over the weekend.

Manly 45-21 Gordon

Four tries from lock Brad Hemopo and a hat trick from centre Josh Turner helped Manly come from behind to beat Gordon at Chatswood Oval.

The Highlanders proved once again that they are capable of playing top quality rugby for periods of a match and jumped out to a 13-0 lead following a try to prop Toby Gukibau and two penalty goals to impressive No.10 Sam Leeming.

Manly responded with back to back tries to Hemopo, but Gordon were well and truly in the fight and pushed further ahead after a try to veteran Matt McDougall.

Unfortunately though, it was one way traffic from that point on.

Hemopo claimed his hat trick just before half time and scored a fourth try on the other side of the break, while Josh Turner showed why he’s earned an Aussie 7s contract with three tries of his own.

Despite the slow start, Billy Melrose’s men remain in the top three and play Parramatta this weekend before a final round showdown against Eastwood. Gordon host Souths next week.

Northern Suburbs 48-31 West Harbour

Norths ended West Harbour’s hopes of playing finals footy and secured their spot in the top two with an impressive bonus point win over the Pirates.

Winger Richie Woolf continued his impressive form and scored two early tries to help the Shoreman jump out to a 21-0 lead.

West Harbour hit back with tries to centre Enoka Muliufi and flanker Kelly Meafua but Angus Sinclair added two penalty goals to give his side a comfortable lead 27-14 at the break.

Wests lock Albert Tuisue scored early in the second half to give Pirates fans hope of a comeback, but that was short lived, as Norths crossed for another three second half tries to put the result beyond doubt.

West Harbour scored two late tries to add some respectability to the scoreline, but Norths were never really threatened and recorded their third straight win.

Sydney Uni 62-21 Southern Districts

Sydney Uni sent a warning to the rest of the Shute Shield competition after producing an unrelenting performance to end the Rebels season.

While the Students scored nine tries, their defensive pressure proved the difference in the first half, as they turned defence into attack on a number of occasions to lead 31-7 at the break.

Playing to keep their finals hopes alive, Souths hit back early in the second half with two tries but they simply couldn’t match the Students when the visitors decided to kick up a gear.

The competition leaders were brilliant on both sides of the ball and ran rampant in the second half. Centre Guy Porter produced his best performance of the season and finished with a double, as did impressive fullback Tim Clements.

In a worrying sign for their rivals, the Students could be even stronger in the coming weeks if any of their Waratahs return in the lead up to the finals.

The Students face Randwick and Gordon in the final two rounds and can wrap up the minor premiership with a bonus point win in one of those two matches.

Eastern Suburbs 41-24 Randwick

Easts will play finals footy for the first time since 2013 after beating arch rivals Randwick in front of a bumper crowd at Woollahra Oval.

Randwick led 14-10 after a tight opening period before momentum swung towards the Beasties after Randwick flanker Jack Johnson received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

Mack Mason kicked a penalty goal and then crossed for his first try of the evening soon after to put the home side ahead and scored again in the second half to finish the match with 23 points.

Aussie 7s youngster Dylan Pietsch scored for Randwick to give the Galloping Greens hope of a comeback, but Easts No.9 Jack Grant scored soon after to secure the win and a spot in the playoffs.

The Beasties are expected to welcome back Tom Staniforth and Alex Newsome ahead of the playoffs. They host Norths next week ahead of a final round bye and will need to win to avoid facing Sydney Uni in the opening week of the finals.

Warringah 17-16 Eastwood

Warringah scored three unanswered second half tries to claim an important one point victory over Eastwood at Rat Park.

In a tight and tough opening half, the Eastwood forwards dominated at scrum time and earned the lion’s share of possession and territory as a result.

Woodies centre Pama Fou scored two impressive individual tries on either side of the half time break to give his side a 13-0 lead, but Warringah certainly weren’t out of the match.

Rats giant Manny Meafou had a huge impact off the bench and helped his side get on the front foot, which led to tries to wingers Esera Chee Kam and Tyson Davis.

Eastwood flyhalf Jackson Bird kicked a penalty goal to give the visitors a 16-10 lead but it was Warringah who would have the final say.

20-year old debutant Wes Thomas scored in the 77th minute to reduce the deficit to just one and iceman Myles Dorrian calmly slotted the conversion to seal the tightest of victories.

While both sides have now secured their spots in the playoffs, they’ll need other results to go their way in the coming weeks if they are to break into the top three and host a finals match on the opening weekend.

Photo: Karen Watson