Gordon kicked a 79th minute penalty goal to beat Hunter and claim top spot on the Shute Shield ladder, while Norths, Western Sydney, Sydney Uni, Eastwood and Manly all claimed victories in round nine. 

Just four competition points seperate Gordon in first and Norths in fifth, while there is plenty of competition for sixth position and the final spot in the playoffs. 

Northern Suburbs 49-21 Warringah

Northern Suburbs produced their best performance since the early rounds of this season, dominating Warringah in a 49-21 victory at Rat Park on Ladies Day. 

The Rats took the lead early, with backrower Alex O’Dell showing good pace to score and give the home side a 7-3 lead. 

But the home fan’s joy was short-lived. Norths closed the gap with a second penalty goal, then took the lead when Declan Carroll and Saxon Gilles combined in tight to set up Jude Gibbs for a try. 

Brodie Leber then broke a tackle out wide and linked with Ratu Tagive to give the visitors a 25-7 lead at the break. 

Norths extended the lead with a try from a set play, sparked by Winiata Cherrington and scored by Seb Cameron. 

Warringah scored twice in front of the Ladies Day tent through centre Seb Wileman, but the Rats had few answers for Norths’ big ball carrying back rowers. 

Boston Kerapa set up Cherrington to put the result beyond doubt, then scored a try on his own in a dominant bonus point win. 

Western Sydney 36-21 Eastern Suburbs

A hattrick to scrumhalf Rilloy Suesue proved the difference in Western Sydney’s 36-21 victory over Easts at Woollahra. 

The Beasties took an early lead when flyhalf Max Patterson stepped his way through the Two Blues’ defence to score on the back of a dominant five metre scrum. 

But Western Sydney hit back with two tries in five minutes to Suesue, then Tavite Gadeisuva to take a 14-7 lead midway through the first half. 

On the stroke of half time, the Two Blues centres Faiva Faiva and Sitiveni Moceidreke offloaded brilliantly to set up Suesue for his second try and give the Two Blues a 21-7 lead at the break. 

Western Sydney extended the lead when Suesue followed up a big carry by Nemani Nadolo to score his third try before Easts hit back with a five pointer from a driving maul. 

Easts then pounced on a loose ball and scored next to the posts to reduce the deficit to just five points with six minutes remaining. 

But Western Sydney controlled possession in the final minutes and sealed the victory with a try to No.8 Jaycob Matiu and a penalty goal on full time. 

Sydney Uni 21-17 West Harbour

Sydney Uni held on to claim a tight 21-17 victory over West Harbour to move within one win of a spot in the top six. 

Centres Henry Clunies-Ross and Simon Kennewell starred for the home side, setting up or scoring all three Uni tries. 

Clunies-Ross found space on the edge and passed to Sepesa Loga-Tarogi on the wing to score the opening try of the match, before Kennewell broke two tackles to score under the posts and give Uni a 14-0 lead. 

West Harbour hit back with a try from a driving maul late in the first half, then scored possibly the counter attack try of the season two minutes into the second stanza. 

The Pirates fielded a kick inside their own half and spread the ball from one wing to the other. Callum Sirker used pace to beat his defender, then kicked the ball down field and out-sprinted several Sydney Uni players to score a brilliant five pointer. 

But both tries were unconverted, and when Kennewell broke another tackle and offloaded to Clunies-Ross, the Students led 21-10. 

West Harbour were awarded a penalty try in the 73rd minute and won a scrum penalty against the feed to give the travelling fans hope of a late comeback, but Uni tightened their defence late and held on for a gritty four point victory. 

Eastwood 34-26 Randwick

Eastwood scored two unanswered tries in the final 15 minutes to claim a 34-26 victory over Randwick in a seesawing battle at Coogee Oval. 

The Woodies led 13-0 midway through the first half following two penalty goals and a fantastic finish by winger Daniel Ala in the eastern corner. 

Randwick hit back when Jackson Mohi claimed a long pass and showed good speed to score, then took an unlikely 14-13 lead to the half time break after Cormac Daly barged over from close range after several quick phases of attack from the home side. 

Eastwood responded early in the second half with a try from a driving maul before momentum swung again behind Randwick. 

Flyhalf Coby Miln produced a perfect cross field kick to set up Jackson Mohi’s second try, then backed up a run from Ben Dowling to score and give Randwick a 26-20 lead with 20 minutes remaining. 

A clever flick pass from the base of the ruck from scrumhalf Lachie Albert helped Eastwood retake the lead following a try to Jack Metcalf in the 66th minute. 

The Woodies then sealed the win with a five pointer from a driving maul in front of their loud, travelling fans in the 77th minute. 

Gordon 22-21 Hunter

Gordon kicked a penalty goal in the 79th minute to steal a 22-21 victory over Hunter and claim top spot on the Shute Shield ladder. 

While the Stags proved their premiership credentials in the tight win, Hunter wasted several opportunities to seal the result. 

The Newcastle boys led 14-0 midway through the first half following tries to forwards Tiueti Asi and Morgan Inness. 

They should have led 21-0 at the break but bombed a try that started deep in their own territory. 

Gordon scored an intercept try completely against the run of play through centre Barrie Karea 10 minutes into the second half to open their account. 

The home side then levelled the scores after taking a quick tap from a penalty and spreading the ball Kainoa Gudgeon to score four minutes later. 

Gordon winger Will Terry then beat five Hunter defenders to score a brilliant individual try and give his side an unlikely 19-14 lead. 

Hunter hooker Phil Bradford scored from close range to put his side back ahead with 15 minutes remaining. 

But the competition newcomers then struggled to close out the match. 

With three minutes remaining, Hunter had an opportunity to kick the ball deep into Gordon territory but chose to chip kick inside their half instead. 

Gordon worked their way towards the try line and earned a penalty directly in front of the posts, which they converted to steal a one point win. 

Manly 45-24 Southern Districts 

Manly scored seven tries including another double to prop and try scoring machine Ivan Fepule’ai to claim a dominant 45-24 victory over Southern Districts at Manly Oval. 

The Manly forwards were at their dominant best, scoring early through Hunter Ward. 

Souths responded with a try to replacement backrower Alan Fitzgerald, but the Marlins dominated the remainder of the first half. 

Manly hit back quickly when Cole Swannack scored in the corner, then took a 26-7 lead to the half time break following two tries in five minutes to Fepule’ai. The prop has now scored four tries in two weeks. 

Souths scored early in the second half through centre George Spencer, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed following two quick Manly tries which gave the home side a 38-12 lead midway through the second half. 

Centre Ofa Manuofetoa threw a lovely cut out pass to backrower Justin Mataele, before the Marlins crossed from a driving maul to put the result beyond doubt. 

Souths scored through Toka Sopoanga and Maui Wallace to add some respectability to the scoreboard, but Manly were far too good in the Marlins’ sixth win of the season.