By Matt Findlay; Photo: Karen Watson

Warringah extended their margin at the top of the Shute Shield table with a sensational, pride-restoring 22-21 victory over Sydney University at Rat Park on Saturday afternoon, thanks largely to a Harley Attwater homing missile in the dying stages.

The Rats trailed the students 21-19 at the break after a swings and roundabouts first half and that scoreline didn’t change until Attwater landed his 45-metre penalty attempt nine minutes out from the full-time whistle.

There was a strong, constant breeze at Rat Park and when the 71st minute opportunity arose Warringah coach Mark Gerrard urged his side to plug the corner from the sideline, Rats’ skipper Maclean Jones instead opting to give Attwater a chance from long range.

It wasn’t an unfounded decision by any means, Attwater’s boot is explosive and on field he’d assured his skipper he’d land the go-ahead goal if called upon, which he promptly did to edge the Rats ahead.

The blockbuster encounter, a rematch of last year’s decider, was far from over, but neither Stu Dunbar nor Connor O’Shea could land their penalty or drop goals attempts.

The Rats had made a point leading in of avoiding giving the clash any sort of revenge billing, but Attwater confirmed after full-time it was exactly that, his side was stoked to earn redemption after round three’s embarrassing 50-nil hammering at the hands of the students.

With the Rats now five points clear on top of the table they cement themselves as minor premiership favourites, and Uni actually drop back to fourth.

Eastwood leapfrogged the students and sit second after knocking off Randwick 47-31 in a 12-try shoot-out at TG Millner while Northern Suburbs skip ahead of the reigning premiers too.

The Shoremen edged out Western Sydney 31-18 on Saturday afternoon on the back of an Andrew Tuala hat-trick.

It’s a congested top six though, with Manly only three points adrift of the students although they suffered a defeat on the weekend.

The Marlins were beaten 34-19 by Eastern Suburbs, the seventh-placed Beasties claiming a much-needed win to stay in touch with Gordon, who are one point ahead of them.

The Highlanders made up ground on Manly with a crucial, three-point win over Southern Districts, prevailing 24-21 at Forshaw Park.

ROUND 13 SCORES

• WARRINGAH 22 (Ru Mackenzie, Josh Holmes, Guy Rees tries; Harley Attwater 2 conversions, penalty goal) def SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 21 (Jake Gordon, Connor O’Shea, Will McDonnell tries; James Kane 3 conversions)

• GORDON 24 (Mahe Vailanu, Alex Barker, Jacob Abel tries; Sean Kearns 3 conversions, penalty goal) def SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 21 (Shambeckler Vui, Sam Latunipulu, Tyrrell Naleba tries; Christian Kagiassis 3 conversions)

• EASTERN SURBUBS 34 (Lindsey Stevens, Rowan Perry, Jack Grant, Dan Donato, Lalakai Foketi tries; Mack Mason 2, Donato conversions; Mason penalty goal) def MANLY 19 (Jay Baker 2, Kotoni Ale tries; Beaudein Waaka 2 conversions)

• NORTHERN SUBURBS 31 (Andrew Tuala 3, Richie Woolf, Sam Kitchen tries; Connor Winchester 3 conversions) def WESTERN SYDNEY 18 (Airi Hunt, Adrian Musico, Michael Zakhia tries; Amanaki Veamatahu penalty goal)

• EASTWOOD 47 (Kiti Ratu 2, Ed Craig, Tevita Piukala, Enoka Muliufi, Barton Picone, Sione Latu Talakai tries; Tayler Adams 6 conversions) def RANDWICK 31 (Nathan Den Hoedt 2, Josh Gordon 2, Tom Molloy tries; Morgan Steyn 2, Lachlan Anderson conversions)