Manly and Hunter secured their spots in this year’s six team finals series with impressive wins over Warringah and West Harbour respectively. That leaves just one playoff spot available and although Western Sydney beat Gordon and Sydney Uni lost to Eastwood over the weekend, Gordon and Uni will more than likely play in round 18 for a spot in the finals.

Catch up on all the action from the penultimate round of the 2023 Shute Shield regular season.

Western Sydney 23-12 Gordon

In a three way battle for the final spot in the playoffs with Gordon and Sydney Uni, Western Sydney did everything they needed to do on Saturday but are somehow further away from the playoffs than they were leading into round 17. 

The Two Blues beat Gordon at Chatswood Oval and while Sydney Uni lost to Eastwood, the Students picked up a crucial bonus point for losing by less than seven points. 

At Chatswood, Gordon defused two driving mauls near their own line in the opening 10 minutes, then took an unlikely lead midway through the first half when Harrison Goddard crashed over from close range. 

The Two Blues hit back 10 minutes later with a similarly scrappy but effective try to Irie Papuni and led 7-5, then kicked a penalty goal on the stroke of half time to take a 10-5 lead to the break. 

After adding a second penalty goal in the 44th minute, the Two Blues struck again minutes later with a decisive blow.

Attacking inside their own half, Nemani Nadolo produced a clever attacking chip towards the sideline. Gordon fullback Jack McGregor spilled the ball and the Two Blues raced away to score and take a 20-5 lead. 

The visitors then pushed further ahead with a penalty goal, after earning a scrum penalty near halfway. 

Gordon scored a late try through prop Rory O’Connor but the result was never in doubt. 

Despite that, Gordon can book a spot in the playoffs with a win over Sydney Uni next week, while Western Sydney need to beat West Harbour with a bonus point and hope Sydney Uni beat Gordon but don’t claim a bonus point. 

Eastwood 29-26 Sydney Uni

Three tries to Eastwood hooker Ed Craig proved the difference as the Woodies moved closer to a top three finish with an impressive 29-26 victory over Sydney Uni in a seesawing battle at University Oval. 

Eastwood opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Tane Edmed produced a lovely cross field kick to Lachie Shelley. 

Later in the first half, Uni fullback Jac Lloyd set up an almost identical try for Simon Kennewell to reduce the deficit, before Eastwood added a penalty goal to take a 10-5 lead to the break. 

Both sides scored maul tries early in the second half with Eastwood leading 15-12. The visitors extended their lead in the 58th minute when Ed Craig crossed for his second. 

But Uni responded minutes later and scored when Henry Clunies-Ross picked up a ball that had spilled out of a ruck and scored next two the post. 

Eastwood attacked deep in Uni territory in the 69th minute and looked close to responding, but Clunies-Ross picked off a Tane Edmed pass and ran 90 metres to score untouched and give Uni a 26-22 lead inside the final 10 minutes. 

But with their top three hopes on the line, Eastwood took control in the closing stages and pick and drove their way towards the Uni try line. Ed Craig eventually crossed in the 76th minute to claim his hat trick and give the Woodies a 29-26 lead. 

The visitors then controlled possession in the final minutes to claim an important victory. Uni must now win with a bonus point against Gordon next week to guarantee their spot in the playoffs. 

Norths 48-12 Eastern Suburbs

Norths kept their minor premiership hopes alive with an impressive 48-12 victory over Easts at Woollahra Oval. 

The Shoremen scored six tries and flyhalf Jude Gibbs had a perfect afternoon with the boot in another Catchpole Medal worthy performance. 

Nick Duffy finished off a well worked short side play to open the scoring for the visitors in the 8th minute. 

After a Norths’ penalty goal in the 12th minute, Easts centre Mosese Tuipulotu scored from a quick tap minutes later but it went downhill fast from there for the Beasties. 

Norths scored from a driving maul midway through the first half, then took a 24-7 lead to the half time break after Gibbs split the Easts’ defence and passed to Brodie Leber who scored Norths’ third try of the match. 

The Shoremen kicked a penalty goal early in the second half, then extended their lead when Henry O’Donnell, back from the Aussie U20s, crossed after the Norths’ forwards battered the Beasties’ line. 

Easts scored in the 71st minute through outside back Luke Glen. But off the restart, they spilled the ball inside their own quarter and gifted O’Donnell his second try of the afternoon. 

Replacement back Winniata Cherrington then showed great speed to score a classy individual try near full time to seal a 36-point victory for the Shoremen. 

Manly 38-14 Warringah

Boosted by the return of Wallaby Reece Hodge, Manly booked their spot in the finals with an impressive 38-14 victory in a race fairly one-sided Northern Beaches derby. 

The Rats opened the scoring through hooker Dane Wilson but it was all the Marlins from that point on. After the Manly forwards worked their way deep into Warringah territory, Yool Yool scored in the corner to open his sides account. 

Hunter Ward then threw a lovely flick pass to Yool midway through the second half to set up his second try, before Ward broke through several Warringah defenders minutes later to score an impressive individual try and give the Marlins a 19-7 lead. 

Manly then turned to their maul and crossed for their fourth try late in the first half, then all but sealed the result with a second maul try in the 50th minute that extended the visitors lead to 31-7. 

Both sides crossed in the final 10 minutes, Manly through forward Nick Brown and Warringah on the stroke of full time through Ben Marr, but it was a comfortable win for the Marlins. 

Hunter 31-26 West Harbour

Hunter also booked their spot in the playoffs with a hard fought 31-26 victory over a West Harbour side that continues to get better every week. 

The Pirates opened the scoring through winger Vuate Karawalevu in the opening minute. 

But in response, Hunter turned to their maul and scored twice to take a 14-7 lead. 

West Harbour levelled the scores in the 32nd minute when wingers Karawalevu and Callum Sirker combined on the same side of the field but Hunter added a penalty goal and took a 17-14 lead to the half time break. 

West Harbour scored in the 45th minute through scrumhalf Dion Spice and regained the lead, but an intercept try to Hunter fullback Nate de Thierry five minutes later put the Wildfires back in front. 

New recruit and Western Force scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens then scored from close range in the 62nd minute to give the Wildfires a 31-19 lead. 

West Harbour hit back with an intercept try to Karawalevu in the 65th minute and reduced the deficit to just five points, but with their finals hopes on the line, Hunter held strong in the closing stages to claim an important win and guarantee finals footy this year. 

Randwick 63-20 Southern Districts

Randwick extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a comprehensive 63-20 victory over Southern Districts at Coogee Oval. 

The Galloping Greens crossed inside the first minute through scrumhalf Conor Tupai and continued the onslaught from there, scoring six first half tries including two from driving mauls. 

Souths young gun Jackson Ropata, back from the U20s World Cup, scored a try and set up another, but the Rebels still trailed 42-13 at the half time break. 

Souths scored first in the second half but had few answers for Randwick’s attack. The Wicks ran in nine tries, all of which were converted by Andrew Deegan who had a perfect afternoon with the boot. 

With a top three spot secured, it will be interesting to see if Randwick coach Steve Hoiles opts to rest players for next week’s clash against Warringah, or if he chases a minor premiership.