The Shute Shield saw no major upsets in round 11, and the ladder remains unchanged since last week. 

The battle for sixth place continues between Northern Suburbs, Randwick and Sydney Uni, as only a point separates them as they push for a finals birth. 

And a win for Manly saw them move within one point of Western Sydney in ninth, with both sides still in contention for a late rise into the top six. 

Gordon 41-31 Sydney Uni 

Three tries in the first 12 minutes saw Gordon get off to a flyer this week, but Uni fought their way back to make it anyone’s game, tied up at 31-all with seven minutes to go.

Scores for Will Kaye, Archie Hosking and Liam Usher shocked the Students early at Chatswood Oval, as Gordon took a 21-3 lead inside the first quarter.

But the home side were caught napping when Uni were awarded a penalty and went quickly, which saw Sepesa Loga-Tarogi break away for his first of two for the day.

A second try to the visitors brought them back within four points at drinks, before the home side secured their bonus point score almost immediately as play resumed.

Then a powerful Sydney Uni maul forced a penalty try and yellow card for Gordon winger Brandon Quinn, hinting at a potential upset for the Highlanders.

Another try apiece brought the score to 31-all with only minutes left on the clock, before a penalty goal to Kaye gave his side a small lead.

And it was Kaye who created the winning opportunity for Gordon, outpacing his marker off the scrum and putting his wing partner Quinn over for the match winner.

The result had no bearing on either side’s position on the ladder, as the Highlanders remain fifth while the Students sit just outside the playoff spots in eighth.

Eastern Suburbs 38-31 Northern Suburbs 

Despite an early yellow card and penalty try leaving them trailing at half time, Easts clawed their way back with three quick tries in the second half to hold out Norths in a replay of last year’s grand final.

The Beasties found themselves at a disadvantage almost immediately in round 11 when Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero was sent for 10 minutes on the side lines for a tip tackle.

Shortly after, Norths reaped the benefits of the extra man at scrum time, pushing Easts’ pack back over their own line to be awarded a penalty try.

The home side returned serve with a try to Rob Cobb, before Norths’ no.8 Baden Godfrey crashed over from close for his own five pointer.

There was no shortage of running rugby at Woollahra Oval as both teams attacked from all over the park, kicked off by Easts’ fullback Harry Wilson, who fielded a kick on his own 22, beat two defenders and put a perfectly weighted grubber through for Otto Serfontein to touch down.

Then it was Norths’ winger Callum Sirker who cut through the Beasties defence to put Tom Bacon over in the far corner, before Serfontein kicked for himself on the 40-metre line to score his double.

At 19-17 as the teams swapped sides, it was anyone’s to take in the second half.

But Easts showed a superior desire to win, crossing three times, including a full field effort finished by Wallaby Darby Lancaster, to make it 38-19 just ten minutes into the second 40.

Norths scored twice more through Marshall Le Maitre and Bacon, but never really looked as though they would regain control of the game, as Easts repelled a driving maul at the death to beat the Shoremen for the second time this season.

Easts still sit five points clear on the top of the table, while Norths still hold the final spot in the top six.

Eastwood 29-17 Southern Districts 

Southern Districts put on a performance well above their position on the ladder, but it wasn’t enough to get the win over a clinical Eastwood at Forshaw Rugby Park.

Waratah Tane Edmed got the scoring underway after just three minutes of play, strolling through a huge gap in the defensive line to cross from five metres out. The young flyhalf has been in excellent form since returning to club land, and this week linked up with Aussie Sevens star Matt Gonzalez in his return to Woods colours to control the game early.

Hooker Jayden Henderson then notched up one for the front rower’s club, pinning his ears back from 40 metres out to beat everyone to the try line.

Unfazed by the early Eastwood dominance, Souths soon found their groove, stretching the visitors on their own line and causing an overlap for Zane Gaiter to score their first points of the day.

The Rebels trailed by 10 at the half time break, but came out of the sheds much quicker than their opponents, scoring through centre Gavin Wood and sending a roar around the Ladies Day crowd at Forshaw.

Another try apiece made it a five-point ball game with just 10 minutes to play, but the electrifying combination of Cole Spinks and Reilly Canning turned an attacking set on their own 22 into another seven points to seal it for the Woods.

Despite this being their eighth loss on the bounce, Souths showed they’re not a side to be taken lightly just because they currently hold the wooden spoon. Scott Fava’s men will take plenty of positives from the defeat, and can surely feel a win is just around the corner.

Warringah 44-29 Western Sydney

Fans enjoyed a 10-try affair at Eric Tweedale Stadium, including doubles to Warringah’s Coby Miln and Jackson Ropata, as well as Western Sydney’s Fabian Goodall. But a dominant second half from the visitors meant they were too good for the Two Blues at home.

In-form Western Sydney winger Latrell Ah Kiong kicked off the scoring, hitting a hard line off the hip of Goodall to crash over after just two minutes.

Then Warringah hit back immediately through Ropata, who scored his double within five minutes in what was fast becoming an expansive game of running rugby.

Goodall scored his first before half time, and a penalty goal each made it 15-all at the break.

But it was Warringah who ran rampant in the second half, outscoring the Two Blues four tries to two, with flyhalf Miln getting his two scores in as many minutes to seal the victory.

The Rats playmaker, who kicked six from the tee this week, leads the Shute Shield with 13 penalties and 47 conversions, and is fast becoming one of the most reliable goal kickers in the competition in recent memory.

Warringah remain in second place, but the loss means the Two Blues are now just one point ahead of a Manly in ninth.

Manly 38-24 West Harbour 

West Harbour again failed to put together a complete performance despite showing plenty of promise to come back from a 19-point deficit, before letting the game slip into another disappointing loss at home.

The Marlins got the perfect start at Concord Oval, pushing their way over with a dominant driving maul to see Harry Fry get the first points of the day.

Then runaway tries to Dally Bird and Wilson Dulieu extended Manly’s lead to 19-0 with more than 10 minutes still to go in the first half.

But the Pirates weren’t ready to roll over, and a yellow card to Marlins’ prop Fred Kaihea for striking saw the tides turn dramatically.

The home side immediately capitalised on the extra weight in their pack, marching their scrum towards the Manly try line before Ethan Halatokoua picked it up from the back and crashed over on the cusp of half time.

West Harbour continued their rampage into the second half, with two tries to flying winger Senijiale Dawai bringing them back within two points. Then a line bust from the first phase at scrum time saw Taine Rush cross to give the Pirates the lead for the first time.

But Manly responded quickly through their rolling maul, pushing over twice to score just as they had with their opening try of the day to take the wind from the Pirates’ sails.

A final try to Simon Kennewell sealed it for the visitors, with the win seeing the Marlins extend the gap on the ladder between them and Wests to 15 points.

Hunter 27-26 Randwick

A nail-biting finish saw Hunter get back to winning ways in Newcastle, clinging onto a single point lead over a spirited Randwick outfit.

The win certainly didn’t come easy for Scott Coleman and his men, with the game tied up at nil-all for the first 28 minutes. Then it was Randwick winger Joe Browning who broke the stalemate, as the visitors took five entries into the Hunter 22 before they were finally able to break through.

The Wildfires scored their solitary try of the half through no.8 Philip Talaileva, but the home side showed little to excite fans in the first 40. And when the Wicks pushed over a maul early in the second half, heads dropped around the stands at Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground.

Hunter started to show glimmers of their earlier season form as Sitiveni Vahai scored twice in five minutes. But a yellow card to prop Bo Abra left them light up front, with Randwick capitalising again through their rolling maul and taking the lead with 20 minutes to play.

The Wildfires dug deep and managed another two scores despite being down to 14 men, giving them an eight-point lead with only a few left to play. A last-minute pick and go put the Wicks back within a point, but the home side held on just enough as the clock ran out to secure the tight win.

Hunter remain in third place on the ladder, while Randwick will continue to battle for a spot in the finals, just outside the cut off in seventh.