Newington, Joeys and Kings all won matches on another wet afternoon of GPS rugby, played on Thursday ahead of the June long weekend.

Just one win now separates the top four sides on the first XV ladder, in one of the most hotly contested schoolboy rugby competitions in recent memory. Catch up on all the round four action below.

Newington 27-17 Scots (Image: Hayley Sparks photography)

A standout performance from flyhalf Toby Rodwell helped Newington beat Scots 27-17 on a wet and muddy afternoon at Stanmore.

Newington kicked the only points of the opening 15 minutes before both sides traded tries late in the first half. 

Scots opened their account with a try to prop Cooper Guerin after a well worked move from the back of a five metre lineout. 

Newington responded when centre Matt Humphries broke a tackle from a five metre scrum but Scots hit straight back through winger Tom O’Hara who crossed in the corner after some clever passing in the wet. 

Newington prop Isaiah Sheck (throwing at hooker) started and finished a 15-metre maul try on the stroke of half time and Newington led 18-12 early in the second half after Sheck’s fellow prop Flynn Clatworthy crossed near the sideline. 

Winger Callum Grantham converted the try from the sideline to give his side an 8-point lead. 

The home side then landed the killer blow in the 50th minute. From a midfield scrum near the halfway line, Matt Humphries broke another tackle and raced into the backfield. 

He offloaded nicely, allowing his teammates to spread the ball, despite the wet conditions, and score through winger Heamasi Makasini in the corner for arguably the try of the round. 

Scots responded with a fantastic individual try to No.8 Heinz Lemoto, but Rodwell ensured the majority of the final 15 minutes was played deep in Scots’ territory, helping Newington secure their second straight win. 

After four rounds, Newington are fourth but sit just two competition points behind Joeys in top spot on the ladder. Newington travel to play an in-form Kings side, currently sitting second, in a crucial fixture in round five. 

Joeys 17-14 Shore

Joeys held on for a dramatic 17-14 victory over Shore on another wet afternoon at Hunters Hill. 

Shore led 8-0 midway through the first half following a penalty goal and a try to flyhalf Rex Bassingthwaighte who fended off his defender from a five metre scrum. 

Joeys responded when centre Matt Gough ran a fantastic line off a lineout near halfway and held on to a “flat” pass. He showed good speed and footwork to beat two defenders and score. 

Shore added a late penalty goal and led 11-7 at half time before a clever kick from Joeys’ flyhalf Jonte Fowler swung momentum in the home side’s favour. 

With his forward pack going backwards near the halfway line, Fowler kicked deep near Shore’s corner post allowing the Joeys’ kick chasers to bundle Shore into touch. 

From the ensuing lineout, Joeys controlled possession for several phases before in-form flanker Johaness Logan barged over to give his side a 14-11 lead. 

Shore then moved possession deep into Joeys’ territory and attacked Joeys’ try line for the best part of five minutes. When they couldn’t find a way through, they opted for a penalty goal to level the scores. 

Joeys then had similar trouble breaking Shore’s red-zone defence and eventually kicked a penalty goal in the 65th minute to regain a three point lead. 

Shore attacked inside Joeys’ half after the 70th minute but eventually turned over possession. 

Joeys failed to kick the ball into touch though and Shore had one final chance to snatch victory at the depth, but a kick downfield ran past the deal ball line bringing to an end a thrilling, albeit scrappy round four fixture. 

Kings 20-14 Riverview

Kings’ young first XV side defended their line after the 70th minute and held on to claim a second straight narrow win, this time defeating Riverview 20-16 in horrible conditions. 

Both sides kicked two penalty goals each in the first half and the scores remained at 6-a piece until after the 50th minute. 

Riverview took the lead when Tom Hartmann found space on the short side and slid over to give his side an 11-6 lead. 

But the try allowed Kings to move the match down the other end of the field and after getting held up over the line, the visitors scored from a maul through hooker Oli Smith to level the scores. 

Five minutes later, No.8 Issac Fonua barged over and suddenly Kings led 20-11 despite spending minimal time in Riverview’s red-zone. 

Riverview No.9 Angus Grover scooted down the blindside late in the match and scored to reduce the deficit to just four points and the home side attacked for the next five minutes inside Kings’ half. 

But Kings’ defence held strong, allowing the young side to claim their second straight narrow victory and move to second on the GPS ladder. 

GPS LADDER AFTER ROUND 4

1st) Joeys – 6 pts (3 wins, 1 loss)

2nd) Kings – 5 points (2 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw)

3rd) Riverview – 4 points ( 2 wins, 2 losses)

4th) Newington – 4 points ( 2 wins, 2 losses)

5th) Scots – 3 points (1 win, 3 losses, 1 draw)

6th) Shore – 2 points (1 win, 3 losses)