Round 12 saw Sydney Uni, Gordon, West Harbour, Eastern Suburbs, Warringah and Randwick all secure important victories, but the biggest talking point was Sydney Uni’s staggering 70-point haul against Manly.

The Students turned from their worst performance of the year with their best, while Warringah continued their strong form and Randwick passed another stern test against Souths. 

Norths may have fallen to Warringah, but their recent form has put the competition on notice and increased the pressure on the teams above them.

With Gordon still feeling the effects of a points deduction and Manly, the Wildfires and Norths all chasing the last two finals spots, the battle for sixth place is shaping as one of the most intriguing storylines of the second half of the Colts season.

Manly 34 – 70 Sydney Uni

Sydney Uni produced one of the performances of the Colts season, piling on 70 points against Manly under Friday night lights to strengthen their finals credentials.

The Students struck immediately through quick thinking from halfback Tom Goldie. After Manly kicked the ball out on the full trying to exit their own half, Goldie raced down the touchline, took a quick lineout and found fullback Monty Schmude backing up inside to score untouched.

Manly responded through flyhalf Ryan Jones, whose superb 50/22 laid the platform for a rolling maul try to level proceedings. From there, however, Uni took control. Powerful carries from Sebastian Ball and Ed Baxter overwhelmed the home defence as both barged over to give the visitors a commanding lead.

Xavier Stewart kept Manly in the contest, ghosting through the defensive line to score under the posts, but Uni finished the half strongly. Goldie’s cut-out pass sent Baxter over for his second before Kamisese Tuqalo finished a slick backline movement. Baxter then earned a breakdown penalty that allowed Henry Conick to add three points for a 32-12 halftime lead.

Uni’s territorial kicking game continued to dominate after the break, with their relentless kick chase repeatedly pinning Manly deep inside their own half. Jones continued to create opportunities, setting up James Irons before another rolling maul produced Manly points, but the Students always had another answer.

Conick capped an outstanding afternoon with a well-earned individual try, while Baxter completed a deserved hat-trick to underline his standing as one of the competition’s premier back rowers. Three late converted tries blew the margin out as Uni stormed to an emphatic 70-34 victory.

Eastwood 19 – 66 Gordon

Gordon produced another ruthless attacking display, running in ten tries to overwhelm Eastwood and continue their charge towards the finals.

The visitors wasted little time opening the scoring, moving the ball quickly down the short side before scrumhalf Liam Walsh backed up perfectly on the inside to finish the movement.

Eastwood responded through hooker James Kenna, who burst over the top of the ruck before being dragged down just short, allowing centre Tom Fitzhenry to finish the movement. Ethan Cooke added an excellent touchline conversion to narrow the margin.

From there Gordon dominated territory and set-piece, completely disrupting Eastwood’s lineout and forcing the home side into long defensive periods. The pressure eventually told as Joseph Eli crashed over before Walsh showcased his outstanding support play, scoring twice to complete a first-half hat-trick. 

Flyhalf Tyler Birnie then capitalised on loose ball inside Eastwood’s half, racing away to extend the lead before another late try made it 38-14 at halftime after Eastwood had briefly hit back through a rolling maul.

Mitchell Holmes highlighted Gordon’s defensive intensity early in the second half, stripping the ball before racing away to score. Gordon never eased up, crossing for several more tries as Eastwood’s defence began to tire.

Walsh added a fourth try to cap a superb individual performance, while Birnie’s kicking game continually denied Eastwood any territorial advantage. Flanker Ezekial Logo was immense with ball in hand, repeatedly giving Gordon front-foot possession as the visitors closed out another dominant 66-19 victory.

Two Blues 7 – 64 West Harbour

West Harbour flexed their muscles with a commanding 64-7 victory over the Two Blues in a match overshadowed by poor discipline and an ill-tempered finish.

The Pirates opened the scoring by spreading the ball wide before winger Jarell Tutuila powered through several defenders to score in the corner.

Parramatta’s discipline quickly became a major issue, with an early yellow card for a reckless high forearm leaving the home side a man short. Wests capitalised immediately, producing one of the tries of the day as second rower Blake Gill raced 60m metres from a kick return, showing surprising pace to finish untouched.

Further tries soon followed as Wests took complete control, while the Two Blues continued to hand possession and field position to the visitors through penalties and handling errors.

Parramatta briefly gained some momentum after forcing repeat penalties inside the Wests 22, eventually earning a yellow card against Samuel Scarlett. However, they failed to convert the numerical advantage into points as Wests entered halftime leading 26-0.

The second half became increasingly scrappy, although Wests continued to score through well-worked movements. Hooker Sonny Raravula crashed over from close range before fullback Navarro and Tutuila both finished slick backline plays.

The contest completely unravelled late when an all-in melee resulted in a red card for each side, summing up an afternoon played well below its best spirit. The Two Blues finally crossed in the final minute to avoid being held scoreless, but Wests had long since secured a dominant 64-7 victory.

Wildfires 26 – 33 Eastern Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs claimed an important 33-26 away victory over the Wildfires in a hard-fought contest that featured momentum swings throughout.

Easts burst out of the blocks with two early tries. Front rower Apollo McInerney crashed over from close range before flyhalf Will Johnson produced a clever show-and-go to score, converting his own try for a 12-0 lead.

The Wildfires responded impressively. Slick hands out wide created space for their first try before fullback Noah Ioasa showcased his brilliance, slipping two tackles to score and converting both tries to hand the home side a narrow advantage.

Easts regained control before halftime when flanker Angus Newman peeled away from a rolling maul to score, sending the visitors into the break leading 19-14.

The visitors continued to challenge Hunter’s traditionally strong maul defence after halftime, crossing through another well-executed rolling maul before competition leading try scorer Aston Weir struck again. A loose ball was tipped into his path and the prolific flanker showed outstanding pace to sprint 40 metres for yet another try.

Hunter refused to go away. Centre Mitchell Balzer produced a powerful solo effort down the sideline before the Wildfires again flexed their rolling maul strength to cut the deficit to seven with minutes remaining.

However, Easts held their composure in the closing stages, forcing a crucial turnover to deny the home side one final attacking opportunity and secure a valuable 33-26 victory.

Northern Suburbs 21 – 45 Warringah

Warringah eventually pulled away from Northern Suburbs 45-21, although the final score failed to reflect how competitive the contest was for much of the afternoon.

The Rats made a flying start through their trademark expansive attack, with centre Daniel Comber and winger Tallis McEwen-Welsh both finishing slick backline movements before Harrison Dene converted to establish an early advantage.

Norths hit back through powerhouse No.8 Zahvid Ukarau Tariu-Simonis, whose physical carrying once again proved vital in getting his side onto the scoreboard.

The home side defended bravely throughout the opening half, forcing Warringah into several handling errors as the visitors occasionally overplayed their hand. Dene’s penalty goal ensured the Rats still led 17-7 at halftime.

Norths emerged strongly after the break when halfback Patrick Thompson caught the defence napping with a quick tap to score beneath the posts.

Comber restored Warringah’s breathing space after running onto a well-timed inside ball from Dene, but Norths again refused to disappear. An adventurous chip-and-chase sparked another attack before Flynn Hyndman crashed over from close range to reduce the deficit to just three points.

That proved the wake-up call Warringah needed. The visitors simplified their approach, repeatedly trusting their bigger forward pack inside the red zone. Aron Brennan crossed from a pick-and-go before two rolling maul tries, including one clever variation, sealed a deserved 45-21 victory despite the scoreboard flattering the Rats.

Souths 31 – 43 Randwick

Randwick overcame one of their toughest examinations of the Colts season, defeating Souths 43-31 in an entertaining contest that tested the competition leaders for long periods.

The visitors opened the scoring after charging down a clearing kick, gifting front rower Harry Davies one of the easiest tries of the season beside the posts.

Souths immediately responded through flanker Amilale Taeoalii, who scored off the back of forward pressure after the home side dominated the breakdown.

The teams traded further tries before Souths briefly took control. Centre James Verbickas produced a superb individual effort, brushing aside two defenders to power over and hand the home side their first lead.

Randwick ensured the scores were locked at 19 all by halftime when No.8 Thomas Johnson won a one-on-one collision battle to crash over from close range.

The ladder leaders emerged after the interval with renewed intent. Flyhalf Sebastian Elizondo, starting in place of representative star Charlie Bird, sliced through the defensive line to score before Davies grabbed his second and replacement prop Rico Ross added another as Randwick stretched the margin to 17 points.

Their trademark willingness to attack from anywhere on the field continually troubled Souths, although Verbickas kept the contest alive by scoring twice more, completing a deserved hat-trick after a lovely tip-on pass created space.

Ashton Thomas eventually sealed the result after receiving an audacious flick pass from fullback Marlon Frost, with Randwick holding on for an impressive 43-31 victory despite Souths producing one of the stronger attacking displays against them this season.