Scots upset competition leaders Joeys to breath life into the 2024 GPS first XV title race with three rounds remaining. 

In the weekend’s other matches, Shore and Riverview claimed important wins and moved up a congested first XV ladder. 

Scots 17-15 Joeys

Scots scored 17 unanswered second half points to hand Joeys their second loss of the season on a windy afternoon at Bellevue Hill. 

Joeys appeared to have picked up where they left off before the July holidays and dominated possession and territory in the opening stages. 

But Scots’ goal line defence was immense and it took Joeys several attempts to find a way through the home side. 

Joeys opened the scoring with a well worked backline play from a scrum on Scots five metre line. After taking a tackle in the midfield, Joeys ran a clever sweep play off No.8 Justice Taumoepeau, which opened things up for fullback Max Palmasani to score in the corner. 

The visitors added a penalty goal soon after to extend their lead and continued to attack Scots’ line. 

After Scots’ held up Joeys over the line, Joeys took a quick tap from a penalty awarded near Scots’ line and crossed through forward Charlie Ghattas to take a 15-0 lead to the break. 

With their season on the line, Scots finally earned some decent possession and territory in the second half and suddenly looked like a different side. 

The home side opened their account in the 50th minute when winger Mark Nikas scored on the end of a clever backline play, not dissimilar to Joeys’ first five pointer. 

Nikas almost crossed again just minutes later but lost his footing near the line before skipper Toby Brial picked the ball up and barged over to score his side’s second try in the space of a few minutes. 

Trailing by three points with just a few minutes left on the clock, Scots’ forwards drove Joeys off the ball from a Joeys’ defensive five metre scrum. 

Scots kept possession tight and showed good patience before swinging the ball wide to fullback Will Johnson who dived over to score and take the lead in what ended up being the final play of the match. 

Scots are now just three competition points behind Joeys with three matches remaining and every chance of challenging the defending premiers for the title. 

Shore 38-12 Kings

Shore scored two tries while Kings defended with 14-men midway through the second half to take control of their clash at North Parramatta and eventually win 38-12 and move to second on the GPS ladder. 

The visitors got off to the perfect start, scoring through lock Ethan Hamilton following a break from Rex Bassingthwaighte inside the first minute. 

Kings hit back through winger Ashton Tregonning who scored one try and set up another following a series of short passes, but Shore led 21-12 at the break after flanker Marshall Le Maitre set up scrumhalf Jack Binnie and Bassingthwaighte broke through again to lay on a try for Jai Callaghan. 

With the match in the balance midway through the second half, Kings’ representative prop Hayden Lavercombe was yellow carded following some push and shove and Shore took full advantage. 

Prop Felix Harrison scored from close range soon after, then lock Ethan Hamilton crossed for his second to put the result beyond doubt. 

Le Maitre then crossed just before the full time siren to seal an impressive 38-12 win for a Shore side that now sits second on the GPS ladder, just two competition points behind Joeys. 

Riverview 38-35 Newington

Riverview winger Tom Hartman leaped above everyone to regain possession and score a match winning try for his side in a seesawing battle at Stanmore, eventually won by Iggies 38-35. 

Both sides scored three first half tries and the scores remained locked at 21-21 at the break. 

Riverview pushed ahead with a try from a pick and drive by lock Dan Smith early in the second half. 

Newington responded midway through the second half with a try to winger Callum Grantham from a sweep play that the home side scored two tries off in the first half. 

Riverview kicked a penalty goal to take a 31-28 lead with less than five minutes remaining. 

Then off the kick off, Hartman chased down a box kick and regathered the ball brilliantly to score a match defining five pointer and give his side a 10-point lead. 

Newington scored again on full time with the same sweep play, but ultimately fell short. 

Riverview and Newington are both on six competition points with three wins from seven matches so far this year.