By MARK CASHMAN

The importance of taking your chances when they come in the Shute Shield was underlined as Eastwood defeated Eastern Suburbs 20-17 in a thriller on Saturday.

In a day when a draw may well have done both teams justice, the Woods scored three tries from their handful of opportunities and were able to manage having fullback Chris Bell and Michael Icely off the field for yellow cards at different times.

Late in the game Eastwood led 20-10 but the Beasts struck late with a try to Faalelei Sione which brought them back into the game.

“It was a classic wet weather football game where both teams tried to play territory. Easts probably did it better in first half while we probably did it better in the second half,” Eastwood head coach Ben Batger said.

“I think we might have had only four or five opportunities to score and we got three which was critical.

“Sione Tau was brilliant in his first game of Shute Shute in seven years, while Matt Gonzales scored a great individual try but it really was a team effort .

“To win at Easts playing 60 minutes with 14 men and winning only 50 percent of your lineouts takes a lot of character and again I think we grew as a team.”

Tau is an interesting story. He last played at the Woods back in 2013 with coach Batger (in his pump at that time at fullback for the Woods) and has spent the time since playing in France for a number of clubs including Agen and Bayonne.

His family has stayed here in Australia and he is keen to spend time with them as his daughter grows up.

Easts coach Pauli Taumoepeau tipped his hat to the championship qualities of his opposition.

“I thought we started well. It seemed like we had territorial advantage and it looked as though we about to get some pay from it. Then it turned,” he said.

“Eastwood did what championship teams do and took their opportunities when they were presented.

“I thought they (Woods) fought hard and kept us frustrated in patches of the game. They’re a great team with some great spark sprinkled around.”

Taumoepeau said Jack Digby, his backrower, was the best for the Beasts while Tane Edmed on the other side continues to show how good he will be.

EASTWOOD 20 (Matt Gonzalez, Lachlan Shelley, Rhys Sheriff tries; Tane Edmed conversion, pen goal) d EASTERN SUBURBS 17 Lindsey Stevens, Faalelei Sione tries; Nic Holton conversion, pen goal, Daniel Donato conversion)

IMAGE: SERGE GONZALEZ / EASTWOOD RUGBY