Hunter claimed a big win over Manly, West Harbour upset Randwick and Norths were too good for Eastwood over the first dry weekend of Shute Shield action for quite some time.

Elsewhere, Uni beat Warringah, Gordon held off Souths and Easts beat Western Sydney.

With three rounds remaining, just seven competition points seperate Gordon in fourth and Western Sydney in 10th.

The race for the playoffs is well and truly on.

Northern Suburbs 36-25 Eastwood

Northern Suburbs’ Scottish 7s recruit Josh Henderson scored one of the tries of the season in the 65th minute to set up his side’s 36-25 victory over Eastwood. 

In a seesawing battle, the Shoremen led 14-3 after 15 minute and 19-13 at halftime following three first half tries, one scored and another set up by exciting outside back Jamie Mazzarol-Kotz. 

Eastwood hit back early in the second half through lock Charles Granger but Norths edged further ahead when Max Burey and George Thornton linked to give their side a 26-18 lead. 

Eastwood centre George Worth regathered a high ball midway through the second half to give his side strong field position. The Woodies then spread the ball to centre Enoka Muilifi who found the tryline and a 26-25 scoreline. 

But with the match in the balance, Henderson showed his class. After gathering a clearance kick inside his half, the fullback fooled the defence with a pass to himself, then showed great speed to find open space, before passing to a supporting Charlie Jeavons-Fellow to score. 

The brilliant counter attack try, against the run of play, turned momentum to the Shoremen, who added a late penalty goal to seal the 36-25 victory. 

Eastwood had plenty of chances in the second half, but struggled at lineout time in particular. 

The Woodies have now lost five of the past six matches and face Sydney Uni next week. 

Norths are now second and can go close to securing a spot in the top four with a win over Southern Districts next Saturday.

Gordon 43-34 Southern Districts

Gordon held off a resilient Southern Districts outfit to claim an important 43-34 bonus point win and move into the Shute Shield top four. 

The Highlanders scored two tries in a number of minutes midway through the second half through hooker Will Bremner and halfback Harry Emery to claim a 17-8 lead. 

But the Rebels hit back through prop Conor Young, then scored off a driving maul to lead 20-17 at the break. 

Gordon returned serve early in the second half with a driving maul try, then jumped away to an 11 point lead following a try to winger Will Terry on the back of a clever long ball from Jack McGregor. 

Souths scored twice more to remain within striking distance, but a sixth try to the Highlanders, again from their driving maul, sealed victory for the home side. 

Eastern Suburbs 24-21 Western Sydney

Eastern Suburbs scored 10 unanswered second half points to claim an important 24-21 victory over Western Sydney and move within one victory of a spot in the Shute Shield top eight. 

After conceding a try early to Two Blues’ scrumhalf Reece Suesue on the back of a dominant Western Sydney scrum, Easts scored two counter attack tries against the run of play to claim a 14-7 lead. 

Scrumhalf Seb Strang scored his side’s first try on the back of a break from Jordan Jackson Hope, before centre Mosese Tuipulotu made the most of some scrappy ball from an Easts’ scrum to score the Beasties second. 

Western Sydney hit back with a try to winger Faiva Faiva, then scored again on the stroke of half time through prop Kaynan Siteine-Tua to take a 21-14 lead to the break. 

Easts kicked a penalty goal early in the second half to reduce the deficit, then scored in the 75th minute through hooker Josh Smith to take a 24-21 lead. 

The Two Blues had an opportunity to score a match winning try in the final minutes, but couldn’t find a way through a far improved Eastern Suburbs’ defence. 

The Beasties are now ninth on 37 competition points, one spot and one point above the Two Blues in 10th. 

Hunter 27-19 Manly

Hunter gave their finals chances a massive boost with an impressive and hard fought 27-19 victory over Manly at Manly Oval. 

The visitors led 14-0 after just seven minutes following a try from close range to lock Rob Puliuvea and a long range intercept try to big No.6 Jo Tamani. 

But still chasing the Shute Shield minor premiership, Manly hit back with two tries of their own from close range, to No.7 Maciu Nabolakasi and prop Ivan Fepuleai, and trailed 17-14 at the break. 

Nicc Benn scored in the corner to give Manly the lead for the first time in the match early in the second half, but Hunter responded soon after. 

From an attacking scrum, the Wildfires spun the ball wide, with winger Chris Watkins eventually scoring in the corner. 

The visitors then added a penalty goal to claim a 27-19 lead. 

Manly attacked Hunter’s line in the closing stages, but couldn’t find a way through some resilient Wildfire defence. 

Manly have now lost three of their past four matches and drop to third spot, while Hunter remain in sixth position and well in the hunt for a maiden finals berth. 

Sydney Uni 36-25 Warringah

Sydney Uni scored three back to back tries midway through the second half to set up a 36-25 victory over Warringah and claim top spot on the Shute Shield ladder. 

The Students flew out of the gates, scoring three unanswered tries to lead 17-3 after 30 minutes. The second of the three tries came from a brilliant 30 plus metre cut out pass from flyhalf Ben Hughes to centre Sione Taufui. 

Warringah flanker Alex O’Dell stole the momentum for his side when he regathered a restart and set up Harry Jones to score in the 31st minute. The Rats then kicked a penalty goal on the stroke of half time, following a Sydney Uni yellow card and took momentum into the break, trailing just 17-11. 

Warringah took the lead early in the second half following a counter attack try set up by Jones and scored by Dean Blore. 

But from there, it was all the Students. Uni retook the lead with a try from a driving maul, then scored two brilliant tries out wide, both scored by winger Sepesa Loga-Tarogi. 

While the Rats scored a late consolation try, Sydney Uni’s victory looked fairly certain from midway through the second half. 

Uni now lead the competition after their 11th win of the season, while Warringah fall further down a congested Shute Shield ladder. 

The Rats are seventh on 41 points. However just seven competition points seperate Gordon in fourth and Western Sydney in 10th. 

West Harbour 40-34 Randwick

West Harbour claimed their second big scalp in as many weeks, beating Randwick 40-34 at Coogee Oval to leapfrog Souths off the bottom of the Shute Shield ladder. 

In a bizarre but highly entertaining first half, West Harbour scored three unanswered tries, before Randwick returned the favour and levelled the scores at 19-19 after 30 minutes.

Randwick took the lead with a try to Jackson Mohi, but West Harbour responded almost immediately, barging over from close range to level the scores once again. 

The Pirates then reclaimed the lead late in the first half with a try from a cross field kick and a penalty goal, both from Jack Debreczeni, and took a 34-26 lead to the break after a frantic first half. 

Debreczeni extended his side’s lead with penalty goals in the 57th and 75th minutes and while Randwick scored through Christian Yassmin and added a penalty goal of their own, it was West Harbour’s afternoon.