There were more upsets over the Anzac Day Long-ish Weekend, with Randwick and Eastwood posting somewhat surprising victories.

Norths came from behind to beat Manly, Warringah took care of Darren Coleman and the Stags and West Harbour were too good for the Two Blues at the new Parramatta Stadium.

Photo: Serge Gonzalez

Randwick 23-15 Eastern Suburbs 

Randwick surprised most on Anzac Day, outlasting Easts to claim an important 23-15 victory, their first of 2019.

The Galloping Greens scored 20 unanswered points on either side of half time after trailing 8-3 in the first half.

“I think we built on our last few performances and were able to put together a more controlled display, without the costly errors that have hurt us in the opening rounds,” Randwick coach Hadley Jackson said.

“I thought our halves Brian Croke and Mitch Short controlled the game really well and Nick Wilkinson was dangerous in attack and strong in defence at inside centre.”

After opening the season with a super impressive win over Sydney Uni, Easts have now lost three on the trot and appear to be losing confidence each week.

They return home to face West Harbour on Saturday in a game that is almost a must win for the highly touted Beasties.

Randwick are now just one win outside of the top six despite a slow start to the year and host an undefeated Norths side next week.

“We need to continue to improve our attack so that we can build pressure against sides. That’ll be really important against Norths on Saturday.”

Northern Suburbs 22-15 Manly

Norths continued their unbeaten start to 2019 with a come from behind victory over Manly at North Sydney Oval. 

After a tight opening quarter, Manly scored two quick tries through returning star Josh Turner and Alex Northam to claim a 12-0 lead. 

But Norths scraped their way back into the match and scored four unanswered tries, including a double to John Porch. 

“It was a scrappy win, but we’ll take it,” Norths captain Hugh Sinclair said. 

“Nothing was really working all game but in the second half we started to hold on to the ball and get it down their end on the back of some good kick chases.”

“We knew if we played our game, we would get the victory and once we got some territory and improved our efforts, it started to swing.”

The win sees Norths jump to the top of the Shute Shield ladder, level with Eastwood on 15 points, while Manly are four points behind the leaders in fifth. 

Warringah 25-13 Gordon

Warringah bounced back from a disappointing loss to Sydney Uni on Good Friday to get the chocolates in a tight battle against Gordon.

The Rats jumped out to a 10-3 lead following a Tyson Davis try, before Gordon fought their way into the match and took a 13-10 lead after a penalty goal and a penalty try midway through the second half.

Discipline hurt the visitors, who had three yellow cards (two for repeated infringements in the A zone), allowing Warringah to close out the match with two penalty goals and a penalty try of their own.

“Warringah were just too clinical in the clutch and we made too many errors in the A zone to win that game,” Gordon coach Darren Coleman said after his first match against his old club.

“I was pleased with our effort and commitment but we’re just missing that steely resolve to execute when we’re under pressure and fatigued late in the match.

“That’s the difference between us and the top teams at the moment.”

Coleman said he sat as far away as possible from his friends turned foes in the Hillbillies but still enjoyed his return to Rat Park.

“It was just a good day of club rugby. Gordon led in the second half in every game, but Warringah found a way to fight back and win.

“They’re a great club and I think they’re still the benchmark in certain areas of how they run their club.”

Eastwood 27-21 Sydney Uni

Eastwood produced their most complete performance of the season to claim a morale boosting win over Sydney Uni at the brilliant Glen Willow Complex in Mudgee.

In a seesawing battle dominated by some brutal defence, the Woodies scored twice in the second half, the later try courtesy of a brilliant Tayler Adams flick pass, and took a 27-13 lead.

Uni crossed in the dying minutes and with an Eastwood player in the bin, attacked the Woodies’ line again after the siren, but weren’t able to breakthrough some rock solid Eastwood defence.

“Aside from a big change in attitude and plenty of desire, I think we just did the simple things well,” Woodies coach Ben Batger said.

“In attack we held the ball and built pressure, in defence we put our bodies on the line. Then we just showed plenty of intent in little areas like kick chase and that made a big difference.”

While Batger said the club was thrilled with the win, they weren’t getting ahead of themselves just yet.

“It shows we’re heading in the right direction, but everyone knows there is a long way to go before this team reaches their potential.”

Batger couldn’t speak highly enough of the Mudgee community and the facilities at Glen Willow and said the trip was an important one for his side.

“The boys got to spend a couple of nights with each other as well, which they don’t normally get to do, so I think it was a really good experience and something that will help the group down the track.”

West Harbour 41-15 Western Sydney

West Harbour have jumped into the top six after beating Western Sydney 41-15 at the new Parramatta Stadium on Saturday evening.

West Harbour dominated early and led 29-3 before leaking two tries in the second half.

No.8 Francis Ieremia and winger Tavite Gadeisuva both bagged doubles in the bonus point victory but Pirates coach Mark Gudmunson said it was still a long way from a perfect performance

“It was definitely a game of two very different halves. We dominated early and held the ball, then got into a bit of a scrap fight in the second half, which was something we talked about not doing,” Gudmunson said.

“Fortunately, we started well enough and the Two Blues struggled to hold possession and go with us.”

Gudmunson said both clubs enjoyed the experience at the new purpose built 30,000 seat stadium, with the match played as a curtain raiser to the Waratahs clash.

“Credit must go to NSW Rugby, the field and facilities were world class. I hope it’s not the last time they do this. The players, management and coaches all really enjoyed the experience.”