by Paul Cook –

One of the tightest Intrust Super Shute Shield competitions in years is well underway as all 12 teams prepare for round nine this afternoon. And with only 12pts separating table-topping Randwick and 9th placed West Harbour, and almost everyone seemingly capable of beating everyone else, each game is proving to be a hotly contested tussle that is causing weekly fluctuations on the ladder.

But who are the standout individual performers lighting up Sydney club rugby in 2016? Who are the right men in the right place at the right time more often than most, to claim those valuable five-pointers? And who has their radars honed to perfection in search of the uprights?

Well, eight rounds in and Sydney Uni’s Jake Gordon has put some daylight between himself and the chasing pack when it comes to crossing the chalk. The young halfback snatched another double last week against Norths, his third brace of the season, to open up a three-try lead on his rival pie-baggers, helping the Students to second place on the ladder in the process.

Photos: AJF Photography / Adam Macdonald / Serge Gonzalez

But behind Gordon it’s a photo-finish for second place so far, with five players all having claimed six tries for their relevant sides. Manly can boast perhaps the most potent backline in the comp numbers-wise, with three of their princesses all tied on half a dozen as Tom Chesters’ double against West Harbour last weekend saw him join fellow Marlins Richard Hooper and Josh Turner in the chasing pack.

Alongside them are Eastwood’s all-action flanker Cohen Masson, and Eastern Suburbs’ flyhalf Archie King, while eight men currently share third spot with five meat pies. Tim Donlan and Dennis Pili-Gaitau continue to fly the Marlins flag; Parramatta can toast the achievements of Tyrone Viiga and Dave Lolohea; Matt Narracott and Christian Kagiassis – who produced an incredible 30pt haul including four tries in round seven against Easts – further illustrate Uni’s strike power, and Eastwood’s gun centre Michael MacDougall and Norths league-convert Irae Simone, round out the free-scoring octad.

Photos: AJF Photography / Ric McLallen

When it comes to overall points however, there are three players standing out on their own – just. Uni fullback Angus Roberts had a rare off-day against Easts in round seven, slotting just one from four before kicking duties were passed to the aforementioned Kagiassis. But the former Melbourne Rebel was back to his best last Saturday, slotting three penalties and three conversions for a 15pt haul that cements his place at the top of the Roscoe Fay Trophy standings.

Closing in on Roberts are the two men charged with conducting their relative orchestras in the Eastern suburbs. Rival flyhalves Andrew Deegan (Randwick – 94pts) and Archie King (Easts – 93pts – no photo available), will face each other this afternoon in the local derby, and their individual contributions could go a long way towards deciding bragging rights for a few weeks at least. Should be a cracker.

Next cab off the rank is West Harbour’s impressive young Kiwi pivot Tyler Adams on 90pts, while Matt Teki’s 19pt haul against Gordon in round eight, lifts the Southern Districts winger back into contention on 88pts. There’s a gap between Teki and Sam Lane (Manly – 71pts), Jai Ayoub (Eastwood – 69pts) and Hamish Angus (61pts), but all three have had their injury issues to contend with and should still be very much in the running as the season builds to its climax.

Here’s to another weekend of sharp-shooting and tries galore!

Round 8 Most Tries:

2 – Jack Grant & Sam Devlin (Easts), Niko Dalivusa (Penrith), Tom Chesters (Manly), Matt Teki (Souths), Jake Gordon & Ben Hughes (Sydney Uni)

Round 8 Most Points:

19 – Matt Teki for Southern Districts against Gordon

Most Points in a Single Game in 2016:

30 – Christian Kagiassis (Sydney University) against Eastern Suburbs – Round Four