After a wet and wild weekend of first XV rugby, just two competition points seperate the entire competition following a series of upsets in round three. 

Kings kicked a late penalty goal to beat Joeys, Newington fought back from 20-7 down to defeat Shore and Scots scored in the 69th minute to beat Riverview. 

Kings 21-19 Joeys

Kings fullback Talen Risati kicked a long range penalty goal with just minutes remaining to help his side claim a thrilling 21-19 win over competition leaders Joeys on a wet and miserable afternoon at North Parramatta. 

Kings kicked two penalty goals early in the match but trailed 7-3 at half time and 12-6 early in the second half following tries to Joeys’ forwards Charlie Ghattas and Justice Taumoepeau. 

As conditions worsened, Kings began to win the territory battle and kicked a 50-22 to move possession close to Joeys’ line. 

Kings looked certain to score from the ensuing maul but were forced to settle for a penalty try after Joeys impeded play in a try scoring position.

Joeys regained the lead in the 50th minute when flanker Johaness Logan broke a tackle near Kings’ line and reached out to score but struggled to move play out of their own half in the final 15 minutes of the match. 

Despite the wet, Kings were still happy to attack and threw a series of lovely passes to find space near the sideline through winger Will Farrah. Farrah showed good pace, then passed nicely on the inside to big lock Anton Thiel who crossed to reduce the deficit to just one point. 

With just minutes remaining, Joeys again struggled to clear the ball from their own half and conceded a scrum penalty soon after. Risati calmly slotted the kick from 39 metres out and 15 metres in from touch, helping the young Kings’ outfit claim a famous home victory. 

Newington 31-26 Shore

Newington battled back from 20-7 down and scored three converted second half tries to claim an important 31-26 victory over Shore at Northbridge. 

Shore kicked two penalty goals early in the match and led 13-0 after centre Henry Connick ran a nice line off a midfield scrum and somehow found a way to plant the ball across the line. 

Both sides scores tries from close range soon after and Shore led 20-10 at the halftime break following a Newington long range penalty goal. 

Newington’s young but powerful forwards took control in the second half. Isaiah Sheck scored from close range early in the second half to reduce the deficit to just three points. 

Shore kicked a penalty goal to extend their lead but Newington were playing most of their rugby deep in Shore territory. After battering Shore up front, the Newington backs eventually swung the ball from one sideline to the other and scored in the corner through winger Callum Grantham. 

Grantham, who was perfect with the boot on a very wet and difficult afternoon, then slotted the conversion from the sideline to give the visitors a 24-23 lead. 

Newington prop Quinn Marcel then crossed from a pick and drive to give his side an eight point lead late in the match. 

Scots 17-15 Riverview

Scots’ fullback Jay McKenzie slid over for a try in the 69th minute to help his side claim a 17-15 win over Riverview at a very wet Bellevue Hill. 

Looking for their third straight win to start the season, Riverview started the match well scoring in the 10th minute from a driving maul then adding a penalty goal to claim a 10-point lead. 

Scots responded with a try to No.8 Toby Brial in the 20th minute and took an unlikely 12-10 lead to half time after flanker Cooper Geurin split the defence and showed good pace to score an impressive individual five pointer. 

Riverview dominated possession and territory for most of the second half but couldn’t find a way through Scots’ impressive red-zone defence. 

Flanker Henri Dempsey eventually caught Scots’ ruck defenders napping and snuck through to score in the 60th minute after a long period attacking the home side’s line. 

But the try allowed Scots to move play down the other end of the field for what seemed like the first time that half. 

After trying to go through the Riverview defensive line for phase after phase, Scots showed good patience and ball control in the wet and eventually spread the ball to McKenzie who slid over in the 69th minute to help Scots claim their first win of the season.