By MARK CASHMAN

GORDON V HUNTER WILDFIRES at Chatswood Oval

There are a number of ways of looking at this game which saw Gordon and the Hunter Wildfires touchdown for 18 tries and amass a logic defying 120 points on Saturday.

The Highlanders won 66-54 to maintain third spot on the Shute Shield competition table, but some may say that defence was barely optional throughout the 80 minutes.

The “rugba league” types will sledge us about not knowing how to tackle and how their game is better.

Others, this correspondent included, reckon that it was a highly entertaining exhibition of running, deft ball skills and lots of the good things that make our game so compelling.

Around the grounds on Saturday had a lot looking at their score updates on their phones and wondering what the hell was happening at Chatswood

Lots of good performers for the home side with flyhalf Harry Snook and fullback Conor Hickey the stand outs in my mind.

Throw into that mix the Gordon No.8 Milan Basson who grabbed a double and scrum half Lachie Albert, while the Wildfires were best served by Logan Love at No.9 and hooker Phil Bradford.

The Highlanders led 47-28 at the break and hit the half century within  90 seconds of oranges but as was the case right throughout this one each jab was met with a counter punch.

And so it was for the rest of the game.

Not sure what the review sessions will be like this week for both teams but there would be lots to like about the ball in hand stuff.

NORTHERN SUBURBS V RANDWICK at North Sydney Oval 

We all know that rugby is a team game but one man can make a hell of difference and we all saw that play out on Saturday.

Norths coach Zak Beer was able to bring Max Burey into his side late in the week at flyhalf with the Force playing the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Burey’s speed and deft touches were at the heart of Norths 39-28 win over the Galloping Greens.

In many cases Burey was a couple of plays ahead of others on the field with the bonus point victory pushing the home side into the top six.

Randwick at this stage are winless and in the bottom reaches of the Shute Shield competition table but that is a fact that is deceptive.

They got out of the blocks early and took the initiative for much of the first half with tries to the well rounded Mitch Short and yet another bullocking effort from Jack Barrett.

Norths led 15-14 at halftime but went bang bang within a few minutes of the break with tries to Callum Sirker who eventually grabbed a hat-trick, and Matt Minogue giving the home side some space.

Randwick did work their way within reach but Norths were always able to repel what was thrown their way.

The effort gives Norths some momentum with Warringah looming and Randwick a lot to think about.

EASTWOOD V WS TWO BLUES at TG Millner Field

Good sides react best when challenged and as a club the Western Sydney Two Blues did just that on Saturday.

Uni took the Two Blues to the cleaners in the majority of the games a fortnight back but the club turned up with their heads down and arses up at TG Millner.

What’s that saying about speaking softly and carrying a big stick?

By the time full time had been called in the Shute Shield game with a 30-27 comeback victory the Two Blues had won seven of their nine senior games on the day.

Second grade (24-22), third grade (36-26), first grade Colts (48-33) and second grade Colts (40-12) all defeated Eastwood at the “Woods Zone”.

The Two Blues at one stage in the this one were down 19-5 but they worked their way back into the picture thanks in some part to centre Rodney Iona.

Iona is 34 years old and as Director off Rugby Sailosi Tagicakibau told Rugby News they are enjoying the best version of this compact and complete rugby player.

The Woodies were right in this contest right up to their boot straps but just when another great escape was about to materialise they turned the ball over.

That observed they competed all the way through and would have been happy with much of their play and the speed they have on the edges with Lachlan Shelley, Isaac Crowe and Dylan Nelson.

This game shows what a tight competition the Shute Shield is this year.

Nelson it must be said put in an early nomination for try of the year with a jinking and swerving effort that impressed many.

We’ll see more this one before the year is out.

SYDNEY UNI V MANLY at University Oval

It’s always hard getting back in the zone after the big northern beaches derby but the Manly Marlins managed to do just that on Saturday.

Their 21-15 win over Sydney Uni could hardly be described as a classic but every member of the visiting team would have headed back to the beaches with a vibrant inner glow.

It was tight throughout, the score at halftime had Uni leading 3-0 but the Marlins were combative throughout, defended well and in the end won the big moments.

Uni did jump out to an 8-0 lead with a nice rolling maul try to Declan Moore and had a few other opportunities after halftime but Manly continued to grow into the game.

The try by Billy Dickens after a good run from fullback Meli Drew sparked a surge from the visitors where they scored three tries and took a stranglehold on the game.

The tries came from doing the simple stuff well, you know the brief, catch, draw and pass and all the while running hard and putting pressure on the defence.

Uni did hit back and the game always remained a contest helped in the final 10 minutes by a Marlins yellow card.

The game underlined the fact there is not a struck match between the vast majority of the Shute Shield teams.

First win for Manly and it will be interesting to see if that gives them momentum for the middle part  of the season.

WARRINGAH V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Pittwater Rugby Park

Warringah kept their slate clean in 2026 with dominant 41-12 bonus point win over Southern Districts on Saturday.

The Rats look comfortable throughout the 80 minutes scoring seven tries to two in a game where they could well have been a bit flat after the exertions of the northern beaches derby the week before.

But they are a settled combination right from loose head prop to fullback this season and once again will go deep into finals when they rock around in August and September.

Souths had their moments are continued to take the game to the home side and at one stage were even ahead 7-5 when winger David Nicol scored from a miscue from Rats No.10 Byron Smith.

Commentator Will Davies described the kick as a “brain fart” on the Stan Sport call and it was hard to argue with that line of thinking.

It didn’t take long for the Rats to hit back and they went into the break leading 15-12.

The second half from the Rats point of view though was much different so perhaps there was another spray from catch Josh Holmes at the break.

It wasn’t all about the razzle dazzle out wide for the Rats it was more about pulling in their defenders and then putting on the right move.

Warringah were good, Souths were brave and will in time get that breakthrough victory.

WEST HARBOUR V EASTERN SUBURBS at Concord Oval

Eastern Suburbs maintained top spot on the Shute Shield competition table with a 42-17 win over West Harbour on Saturday.

The scoreline in this one did blow out in the end but they Pirates were competitive throughout grabbing the first try of the game to Will McDonald and another to hooker Albert Alcock.

But the Beasties knuckled down and concentrated on the their basics, rolled in a few tries and when things opened up flyhalf Jack Bowen orchestrated some lovely moves.

Josh Bokser and Archie Gavin were other major contributors for the visitors.

Wests were certainly able to compete with the Beasties but just fell away at vital times.

They are certainly a lot better than last season and you can see the coaching of Ben Rutherford and other coming through.

Easts are a team to watch and are playing a pragmatic and at times open game of footy.

One of their advantages is playing and training on the synthetic surface at Woollahra where ruck speed increases significantly.

That is when the Beasties shine and I for one can’t wait for the big showdown when they take on Warringah on July 11 on Round 13.

It will be a game that frames the lead in to the playoffs for sure.