Gordon produced their best performance of the season to book their spot in the playoffs and end the season of defending premiers Sydney Uni.

Elsewhere, Norths’ win over Hunter and Eastwood’s win over Manly mean those sides will play each other again this weekend in the opening weekend of the playoffs.

Gordon 36-7 Sydney Uni

Gordon claimed a dominant 36-7 victory over Sydney Uni in a rematch of last year’s grand final to book their spot in the playoffs and end the defending premier’s season. 

After a tight opening 25 minutes, Gordon backrower Milan Basson muscled his way over the line to score the home side’s first try of the afternoon. 

Harrison Goddard then scored a brilliant counter attack try, started by Jack McGregor and Joey Walton inside their own half to give the Stags a 17-0 lead at half time. 

A try from a maul in the 43rd minute all but ended Sydney Uni’s hopes of defending their premiership, before a try to Joey Walton off a Harrison Goddard short ball near the line confirmed an early Silly Sunday for the Students. 

Uni scored from a maul in the 71st minute to open their account, but a try to Tom Horan on the stroke of full time sealed an emphatic and confidence boosting victory for last year’s runner’s up. 

Gordon have now won four of their last five matches and travel to Coogee to face an in form Randwick outfit next Saturday. 

Northern Suburbs 43-28 Hunter

Norths sealed the minor premiership and a guaranteed spot in week two of the playoffs with a 43-28 victory over Hunter. 

The Shoremen opened the scoring through Brodie Leber in the 3rd minute but Hunter quickly responded with Tom Watson scoring off a clever Ueta Tufuga short ball. 

Attacking against 14 men, Nick Duffy scored next off the back of a dominant Norths’ maul, then when Henry O Donnell chased down a Jude Gibbs bomb that was allowed to bounce in open space, Norths raced out to a 26-7 lead. 

Hunter hit back on the stroke of half time and scored through Andrew Tuala, but Norths pushed further ahead early in the second half when two props combined to make a break and set up a try for No.8 Luke Gersekowski. 

Andrew Tuala crossed in the 50th minute for his second try to seal his stop at the top of the leading tryscorers list for 2023. 

Then Hunter scored again in the 78th minute through Nick Murray to reduce the deficit to just eight points. 

But a scrappy try on full time to Charlie Jeavons-Fellows sealed victory and the minor premiership for Northern Suburbs. 

Norths have now won 10 of the last 11 matches and face Hunter again next week in the opening weekend of the playoffs. 

After winning six of their first seven matches this year, Hunter have dropped to sixth spot after winning just one of their last five games.  

Eastwood 27-24 Manly

A horrific injury to Eastwood fullback Joe Pincus marred an impressive 27-24 victory for the Woodies over Manly. 

Pincus suffered a fracture and dislocation of his ankle, but Eastwood were able to regain focus to close out a tight victory and book a home semi final next weekend. 

The match could be the last Eastwood game ever played at TG Millner. 

The Woodies opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Lachie Anderson regathered a clever kick from Tane Edmed and scored. 

After holding up Manly down one end, Eastwood then extended their lead minutes later when Lachie Shelley scored in the corner. 

The winger then scored his second try in just over five minutes from a nice inside ball to give the Woodies a 17-0 lead midway through the first half. 

After an extended injury break, Manly hit back on the stroke of half time through flyhalf Tom Hardwick and trailed 20-7 at the break. 

After failing to convert from their first few attacking mauls, the Marlins eventually scored against a 7-man Eastwood forward pack to reduce the deficit further. 

Five minutes later, after battering the Eastwood try line, Manly spread the ball to Yool Yool who scored next to the posts and reduced the deficit to one point. 

A massive shot on Woodies fullback Chris Bell then led to a loose ball, and Manly capitalised and scored through Ruan Du Plooy to claim an unlikely 24-19 lead. 

But just as they did against Uni last week, Eastwood muscled up in the final quarter of the match. They regained the lead when Nick Russell made a break and scored, then showed good composure to close out the match and secure third spot on the ladder.   

The two sides will face one another again next Sunday in what could be a farewell to the much loved TG Millner Field. 

Western Sydney 40-26 West Harbour

Western Sydney claimed a bonus point victory over West Harbour but will still fall agonisingly short of a breakthrough finals appearance. 

The Two Blues opened the scoring inside the first minute through centre Nikola Vikena before West Harbour responded in the 15th minute with a try to Kaliova Nacina off the back of a driving maul. 

A clever midfield play led to a Rilloy Suesue five pointer midway through the first half, then a try from close range to hooker Jay Fonokalafi gave the Two Blues a 21-7 half time lead. 

Pirates gun Callum Sirker, one of the best performers across the competition this year, scored two tries in two minutes against the run of play early in the second half to reduce the deficit to two points.

But at this stage, the Two Blues were still playing for their season and quickly put the result beyond doubt. 

Winger Taliki Nadredre scored first, before Nemani Nadolo barged over from close range to give the Two Blues some breathing space. 

Rilloy Suesue then sealed the win with a try sparked from a Nadolo cross field kick. 

The win sees the Two Blues move ahead of Sydney Uni into seventh spot on the ladder but it wasn’t enough to secure finals footy. 

Western Sydney lost eight matches this year by eight points or less and four matches by less than three points but are still one of, if not the, most improved teams in the competition. 

Randwick 49-0 Warringah

Randwick extended their unbeaten run to nine matches with a comprehensive 49-0 victory over Warringah at Coogee Oval. 

The Galloping Greens ran in four first half tries to lead 28-0 at the break before continuing the onslaught in the second half. 

Ben Sugars, Cormac Daly, Tom Silk, Andrew Deegan, Nick Chan, Matias Jensen, James Hendren and Coby Miln all scored five pointers, while Deegan kicked six from six before leaving the field after 60 minutes for an early shower. 

While coach Stephen Hoiles would be thrilled with his side’s attack, it’s Randwick’s defence that should have Galloping Green fans excited. The Wicks have the best defensive record in the competition at the end of the regular season. 

Their reward though, is a home semi final against an in form Gordon outfit who put 36 points on Sydney Uni over the weekend. 

Randwick host Gordon at Coogee on Saturday afternoon. 

Eastern Suburbs 26-17 Southern Districts

Eastern Suburbs finished a disappointing season with a 26-17 victory over Southern Districts at Forshaw. 

After two yellow cards, Easts played 20 minutes of the first half with 14 men but Souths were only able to score once, midway through the first half, from a driving maul. 

Easts hit back with a try set up by centre Nick Jooste and led 7-5 at the break before extending their lead with a try to forward Ethan Simpson early in the second half. 

Souths reduced the deficit to two points when Will Thomas made a break and linked with Archie Hosking.

But chasing just their sixth win of the season, the Beasties kicked up a gear and scored back to back tries to seal the result. 

After scoring first from a driving maul, back Luke Glen showed his speed to score a counter attack try that featured a questionable ‘flat’ pass in the lead up. 

Souths scored a late try through young winger Corey Goldsborough but Easts held on to claim a 26-17 victory.