Gordon held on to claim a two point win over Norths in a thrilling local derby while West Harbour and Eastwood beat Warringah and Randwick respectively to shake up the minor premiership race. 

Catch up on all the round 17 action below. 

Gordon 27-25 Northern Suburbs

Gordon kept their hopes of a top three finish alive by holding on to claim a thrilling 27-25 victory over Norths in another brilliant local derby at Chatswood Oval. 

Gordon outscored Norths two tries to one in the first half, thanks to a brilliant individual effort off a restart by Oli Arcus, but trailed 13-12 at the half time break. 

The Stags took control of the match midway through the second half with five pointers to Milan Basson and Arcus and kicked a penalty goal in the 75th minute to lead 27-13. 

But things really heated up in the final minutes. 

Norths scored a maul try in the 79th minute to reduce the deficit to just seven points, then worked their way down the field and scored again from a maul well into injury time. 

Flyhalf Jude Gibbs had a chance to level the scores from right on the sideline, but pulled his attempt slightly to the left, confirming Gordon’s second win over Norths this year. 

The Stags host Western Sydney next week and could book a home semi final with a victory. Norths travel to play Manly and could also jump into the top three if they win and other results go their way. 

Eastern Suburbs 42-17 Sydney Uni

Easts edged closer to the club’s first Shute Shield minor premiership since 2000 with an impressive 42-17 win over Sydney Uni on Ladies Day at Woollahra Oval. 

The Beasties’ backs combined for a try inside the first minute before Easts laid on two additional first half five pointers, including one to returning Wallaby Darby Lancaster, who joined Easts’ colts program as a teenager after graduating from Scots. 

Trailing 21-0 at the break, Uni struck first in the second half, but tries to hooker Julian Heaven and flanker Jamie Adamson all but sealed the result for Easts with 15 minutes remaining. 

Uni scored two late tries to add some respectability to the scoreline, but were never really in the contest at Woollahra against a red hot Beasties outfit. 

Easts now await the ruling of an independent review to learn if they’ll be docked points for allegedly breaching the competition’s player points cap earlier this season. 

But even if they are docked as many as five competition points, the club could still claim the minor premiership if they beat West Harbour at home next weekend. 

West Harbour 40-28 Warringah

Returning Super Rugby back Jack Debreczeni starred for West Harbour in a 40-28 upset win over Warringah in a massive blow to the Rats’ minor premiership hopes. 

Both sides scored three tries each in the opening exchanges before West Harbour took control of the contest. 

Leading 21-18, Pirates’ winger Matt Whelan scooped up a poor Warringah kick and ran 80 metres to extend his side’s lead in the 30th minute. Debreczeni then set up a try for Scott King on the back of a strong driving maul to give the home side a 35-18 lead at the break. 

Warringah scored twice through centres Tyson Davies and Conor Hickey to reduce the deficit to just seven points with 20 minutes remaining. 

But the Pirates sealed the win soon after when Debreczeni produced a perfectly weighted cross field kick to set up Matt Whelan’s second five pointer. 

Warringah now need to claim a bonus point win over Southern Districts at Rat Park next week to guarantee a home final in week one of the playoffs, while West Harbour could help the Rats claim the minor premiership if they upset Easts at Woollahra in their final match of the season. 

Eastwood 41-35 Randwick 

Eastwood produced their best performance of 2024 to beat Randwick 41-35 at Coogee Oval and further shake up the minor premiership race. 

Randwick scored on the stroke of half time to take a 21-12 lead to the break after a tight first half but Eastwood snatched back the lead and momentum shortly after the break. 

Intercept specialist Harry Snook struck again minutes into the second stanza to get his side back in the match, before backrower Jimmy Hokafonu scored twice to give Eastwood a 31-28 lead. 

Snook then broke Randwick’s midfield defence in the 66th minute to set up a try for winger Charlie Sorovi and extend the visitor’s advantage to 10 points. 

Randwick hit back with a maul try but conceded a scrum penalty inside their own half and trailed 41-35 with just minutes remaining. 

The Wicks worked their way down the field and attacked from a five metre lineout in the 80th minute and had a chance to steal victory. 

But with the match on the line, Randwick’s lineout fell to pieces and Eastwood held on for a six point win. 

The Galloping Greens host Hunter at Coogee next week and will most likely book a home semi final with a win.

Manly 31-22 Hunter

Manly were forced to work for their competition points in a tight 31-22 victory over Hunter in Newcastle. 

Hunter led 8-0 after 20 minutes following a try to centre Tom Watson before Manly hit back with a lovely backline play that created room for Fraser Toohey to charge down the sideline and score. 

The Marlins turned to their maul next and scored on either side of the half time break to claim a 19-8 lead. 

But Hunter refused to go away. 

Tom Watson split some pretty average Manly defence midway through the second half to score his second and reduce the deficit to just four points. 

Manly hit back quickly with a try to Ollie Horne, but Watson crossed again in the 70th minute to give Hunter further hope of an upset. 

Manly controlled territory in the closing stages though and eventually crossed through flyhalf Brendan Owen in the 76th minute to seal an 11-point win on the road. 

The Marlins could jump into the top three and host a home semi final if they beat Norths at home next Saturday. 

Western Sydney 55-21 Southern Districts

Western Sydney fullback Christian Papa scored four tries to move to the top of the Shute Shield try scorers list with one round remaining as his side claimed an impressive 55-21 victory over Southern Districts. 

Both sides scored two early tries and Souths led 14-12 midway through the first half before the Two Blues took control of the contest. 

Western Sydney scored from a maul, then crossed for two great counterattack tries to claim a 31-14 lead. 

Souths scrumhalf Liam Blyde crossed for his second on the stroke of half time but it was one way traffic after the break. 

Western Sydney made Souths pay for every mistake they made and attacked brilliantly to score four second half tries. 

Papa scored three of those four to take a clear lead as the competition’s top tryscorer with one round remaining. 

The Two Blues travel to face Gordon next week.

A number of former Two Blues’ players and coaches left Merrylands for Chatswood over summer and you can expect Sailosi Tagicaubaki to prepare his side for a ‘grand final’ next weekend.