By MARK CASHMAN

Gordon have held on to top spot on the Shute Shield competition table int the wake of their 34-24 win over Sydney Uni in the highlight of Round 11 action on Saturday.

The Highlanders were down 19-3 after 25 minutes and looked down and out but managed to get themselves back in the game thanks to the leadership of Jordie Goddard and the wily skills of hooker Mahe Vailanu.

The loss sees Uni slip back to sixth spot on the ladder with games against Norths and the Two Blues to come before the playoffs.

Norths continued on their way with a 35-17 victory against Southern Districts that sees them three point clear of the third placed Randwick who have the bye this Saturday.

Easts defeated Penrith 56-19, West Harbour beat the Two Blues 50-15 and Randwick beat Manly 34-15 at a special Indigenous Day at Coogee Oval.

In Newcastle Warringah continued their late surge with a 50-15 victory over the Hunter Wildfires.

Here’s how all the games panned out: 

NORTHERN SUBURBS V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 

Northern Suburbs hooker James Margan scored a double as the Shoremen kept pace with the top end of the Shute Shield competition with a 35-17 win over Southern Districts on Saturday in the 7TWO TV match of the round.

Norths negotiated what was always going to be a difficult game made even harder by the windy conditions that prevailed throughout the 80 minutes at Rat Park.

Souths were always going to come at Norths hard at scrum time with their Super Rugby quality front row that featured Tim Metcher, Andrew Tuala, who played last year at Norths, and Tetera Faulkner.

The Shoremen did kick off things with a try under the posts from Harry Burey but that was when the Rebels scrum kicked into gear after they were able to get some time inside the Norths 22m area.

They were robust and patient and it eventually led to their No.8 Sama Malolo diving over the top of a ruck for the visitors first score of the game.

Norths did hit back shortly after with Margan’s first try but the toll of some hard scrummaging from Souths was apparent and they managed to force a yellow card to tight head prop Dewald Dekker.

From there Souths scrum half Cooper Chambers slotted over after his forward had hammered the Norths line for a period.

The emerging pattern from the game though was Norths hitting back almost immediately and that’s the way it panned out with Max Burey’s touch of individual brilliance.

Burey has been settling in well at fullback and he found some space on the right edge, chipped through and managed an impossible pick up off his toes for a great try.

The longer the game went the better Norths coped with the big Souths scrum, which had been hit early with the losss of Metcher to a lower leg injury.

The score was 21-12 at the break and the Rebels got themselves right in the game with a try to winger Zak Hickey but from there Norths continued to build and with the phases came the opportunities.

Another try to Margan and then a great effort from Dave Henaway sealed the bonus point victory on what was a pretty tough day to play footy.

“Away from the scrum I was happy with the effort across the board,” Norths coach Earl Va’a said.

“It took us a while to get out scrum sorted out but once we got into our shapes and used the ball a bit some good things flowed.

“As we head into the point end of the season we know what is going to be coming our way and we have to do better.”

Norths were disrupted with a couple of late withdrawals with skipper Nick Palmer pulling out and Reece Mau’u not coming up in time after a leg knock against Gordon.

The Shoremen have spent 2020 on the road with North Sydney Oval not being available and have recorded six wins from their six home games at three different “home venues”.

NORTHERN SUBURBS 35 (James Margan 2, Max Burey, Declan Carroll, Harry Burey tries; Angus Sinclair 5 conversions) d SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 17 (Sama Malolo, Zak Hickey, Cooper Chambers; Christian Kagiassis conversion) at Pittwater Rugby Park.

GORDON V SYDNEY UNI

Things weren’t looking too flash for Gordon after the first 25 minutes of their big clash with Sydney Uni at home on Saturday.

The Highlanders had conceded three very dominant tries to Uni, their scrum was getting man handled, the Students’ lineout drive looked awesome and they were down 19-3.

But some of the lessons learnt from the loss to Northern Suburbs the week before came into play and Gordon clawed their way back into the contest and eventually won 34-24.

“Yeah it was by far our most satisfying and well-earnt win of the season,” Gordon coach Darren Coleman said in the wake of the game.

“After 25 minutes our scrum was getting demolished, their lineout drive almost indefensible and the little ball that we did get was being squandered early in the phase count with poor handling. 

“It was quite bleak, the staff and I weren’t too sure how we would get out of it.

“Last week (v Norths) was the first time where we hadn’t led and we didn’t know how to come back. 

“I’d like to think we learnt well from that and overcame a bit of adversity and pressure.” 

Western Force prop Dom Hardman came into the game at the 30 minute mark and that stabilised the scrum to a certain extent and allowed the Highlanders to start to play.

Before that though a penalty try was followed up by rumbling efforts from Declan Moore and another Ratu Rotuiolia had given the visitors the edge.

But tries to Joey Walton and Mahe Vailanu got the Highlanders within reach and they really put the pedal to the metal with tries to Tautalatasi Tasi and a tiring one from Jack Dempsey gave them the lead.

Uni did apply some pressure late with a try to Henry Clunies-Ross but a pressure penalty goal from Rodney Iona got the home side out to the 10 point break and the final scoreline.

“Couldn’t be prouder and happier to be associated with this group,” Coleman added.

“There’s still some fight in Uni. With a scrum like that, they are not dead yet.”

Rod Iona’s goalkicking – six from six conversions and a 45 degree penalty goal from 45 metres out – was telling on a day of great rugby.

Sydney Uni coach Michael Hodge praised the calm of the Gordon side when they were down 19-3 and seemingly on the deck.

“They were calm and all credit to them that they were able to come back and win the game,” Hodge said.

“They played like the top team that they are and we just need to be better at the big moments.

“We came in with a game plan that would see us win that one but we just couldn’t get it done. We’ve got to regroup quickly and make sure that we make the top six and then it’s a whole new competition.”

GORDON 34 (Mahe Vailanu, Tautalatasi Tasi, Joey Walton, Jack Dempsey tries; Rodney Iona 4 conversions, 2 pen goals) d SYDNEY UNI 24 (Declan Moore, Ratu Rotuisolia, Henry Clunies-Ross tries, penalty try; Stu Dunbar conversion) at Chatswood Oval.

RANDWICK V MANLY

It was a day of milestones at Coogee Oval as Randwick continued their climb up the Shute Shield ladder with a vital 34-15 win over Manly on Saturday.

The club celebrated their celebrated links to the Indigenous community by playing in a special jersey and also had a number of formalities before the game, a welcome to country, smoking ceremony and the national anthem sung in one of the First Nations tongues.

But once the game kicked off it was all about honouring the likes of David Vea for his 100th grade game, Dave Horwitz’s 50th first grade cap and of course the very last game on Coogee Oval for the evergreen hooker Adam Freier.

Randwick coach Ben McCormack said it wasn’t a pretty affair but his side got out of it what they needed to.

“It was a bit of a stop-start affair, but we just did what we had to,” McCormack said.

“They all did themselves proud in a great day for the club clean sweeping Manly in all the grades and the colts.

“David (Vea) was probably the stand out from all those guys putting on some great shots in defence and hitting 100 percent of his line outs on what was a very windy afternoon.

“Michael McDonald at scrum half was excellent in his starting debut and Tom Piroddi put in a good shift with an awesome work rate and some quality touches.”

The game didn’t start well for the home side though with Manly getting off to a bit of flyer with a try prop Sio Tatola and a penalty goal to Harley Attwater for an 8-0 lead.

The home side then got themselves into the game with a penalty goal to Ben Donaldson and a try to Triston Reilly who wore a special pair of boots with artwork done by his uncle.

The Reilly try seemed to flick the switch for Randwick and they followed that up with five pointers from McDonald, Kyle Harris and Brooklyn Hardaker before Manly hit back with one from their flyers Yool Yool.

Randwick replacement Kristian Jensen finished off the afternoon with another try that was duly converted by Donaldson for the final scoreline. 

Manly coach Matt McGoldrick admitted that the Wicks were just that little bit slicker.

“But it was an improved showing from us. Our set piece was very good again while Yool Yool and Hunter Ward were outstanding,” McGoldrick said.

“I was actually pretty happy with the application that we showed throughout the game. 

“We just made some errors at bad times, but it was a step forward for us.”

RANDWICK 34 (Michael McDonald, Brooklyn Hardaker, Triston Reilly, Kyle Harris, Kristian Jensen tries; Ben Donaldson 3 conversions, pen goal) d MANLY 15 (Alefosio Tatola, Yool Yool tries; BJ Hartmann conversion, Harley Attwater pen goal) at Coogee Oval.

EASTERN SUBURBS V PENRITH

The value of having Super Rugby players coming back into the Shute Shield can be a double edged sword but Eastern Suburbs coach Pauli Taumoepeau wouldn’t swap Alex Newsome for anyone.

Newsome has come back from a full Super Rugby AU season with the Waratahs and has readily embraced everything at Woollahra Oval and that was rewarded with a four try effort on Saturday against Penrith.

The Beasties won 56-19 making the most of their opportunities and scoring eight tries to three and pulling themselves further into the top six.

They are now just a little bit more secure in fifth spot with 36 points and games against the Western Sydney Two Blues and Randwick in the final two round before the playoffs.

Easts got out of the blocks quickly with tries to Jeremy Williams, Henry Paterson and Charlie Smith saw them jump out to a 21-0 lead.

Penrith did come back with tries from Maci Latabua and Joseph Faoagali to bring the two sides closer on the scoreboard at 21-12 but little did they kn ow that the Newsome master class was about to begin.

Newsome scored the next three to take the score to 42-12 before Jack Grant got a look in off the bench.

“Alex was great for us. Most of his tries came through effort in support,” Easts coach Taumoepeau said.

“That says a lot about him. He’s been great for us since he’s been back. 

“Penrith were great in patches too. They really tested us in some areas and in my mind they are a team that have improved each week.”

The Emus got the news earlier in the week that they will be part of the Shute Shield in 2021 and with some extra time together they will be far more competitive.

They had the honour of being the final try scorers of the day when Willie Tooala came off the bench and crashed over and converted his own try.

EASTERN SUBURBS 56 (Jeremy Williams, Henry Paterson, Alex Newsome 4, Charlie Smith, Jack Grant tries; Daniel Donato 8 conversions) d PENRITH 19 (Maciu Latabua, Jospeh Faoagali, Willie Tooala tries; Masi Fidow conversion, Toolala conversion) at Woollahra Oval.

HUNTER WILDFIRES V WARRINGAH

It’s been a season of what could have been for Warringah in 2020 but they showed that they will almost certainly play a role in the make up of the final six in the wake of their 50-15 win over the Hunter Wildfires on Saturday.

The Rats travelled to Newcastle and scored eight tries to three in a game where their up tempo was apparent right from the word go.

The points may not have come early in this one as the Wildfires went about their work trying to nullify the Rats’ big dogs with some robust defence, but the longer the game went the more it seemed apparent that the result was going one way.

“We needed to start well and despite not converting the pressure we had on them into points as early as we should have we played some nice footy and that set the tone for us,” Warringah coach Mike Ruthven said.

“We had a focus around the speed of our game and making sure we recycled the ball quickly and that allowed Josh Holmes and Ben Marr to get on the front foot and play.

“It was a good result for us on Saturday and an opportunity to gather some momentum coming into two really tough weeks (v Eastwood and Northern Suburbs).”

Alex O’Dell, Charlie McKill and Wes Thomas got the Rats on the front foot and worked hard across the 80 minutes. 

Opensider Boyd Killingworth was a presence around the breakdown and gave the visitors a source of turnovers when they were on the defensive.

“All our backs contributed really well off the back of the forwards. Tyson Davis had some really strong involvements down the edges,” Ruthven added. 

“‘Marsy’ (Ben Marr) was dangerous through the middle and Charlie Tupu showed his class and footwork to finish some nice tries.”

Mathematically the Rats can make the finals but they need to win their final two games and then have some results go their way. 

Wildfires coach Scott Coleman lamented the error riddled performance produced on the day.

“That was our worst performance of the season,” Coleman told James Gardiner at the Newcastle Herald.

“Individually we were poor and collectively we were poor. 

“Don’t get me wrong, there were some brilliant moments in there, but in terms of team structure and everything we worked on during the week, it was by far and away our worst performance.”

WARRINGAH 50 (Wes Thomas, Charlie McKill, Ben Marr, Charlie Tupu, Seb Wileman, Esera Chee Kam, Guy Rees, Jack Nettleton tries; Marr 2 conversions, Tyson Davis conversion, Rees 2 conversions) d HUNTER WILDFIRES 15 (Jeremy Burrill Shawn Ingle, Mahe Fangupo tries) at Newcastle No.2 Sportsground.

WEST HARBOUR V WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES

‘Jimmy the Jet’ is alive, well and loving life in the West Harbour backline after the Pirates’ 50-15 win over the Western Sydney Two Blues on Saturday.

Rugba league’s version of ‘The Jet’ – James Roberts from Souths – may well be sidelined with injury at the moment but James Turner certainly put his hand up for the moniker at the weekend.

Turner scored four five pointers in Wests’ big win eight tries to two win over their western Sydney rivals which was tightly contested for much of the first 40 minutes.

But the Pirates got their act together and powered through the second stanza showing that they will be a side that will be hard to beat next season if they continue their trajectory.

West coach Mark Gudmunson just loved the fact that his side enjoyed their rugby on Saturday.

“Jimmy just turned the turbo on when he got the ball in his hands as you can see from the highlights,” Gudmunson said.

“Our other winger Justin Tavae got a double and showed some real class in setting another one up for us. 

“We went away from our game plan at the end of the first half, but the big thing for me was that we regrouped and scored 38 unanswered points in the second 40 minutes.

“It was really pleasing to see the boys just enjoy their rugby. Playing in those kinds of (windy) conditions and being able to show some quality skills was really pleasing to see.”

One of the major factors for Wests was the presence of Waratahs squad back rower Carlo Tizzano, who has seen limited football this year because of Covid-19 bubble.

Tizzano was on the ball all day and helped himself to a handful of turnover balls as well as being clinically effective in defence.

“Carlo was great for us, turn over balls and line breaks. It was a very complete performance. He is the real deal,” Gudmunson added.

“We’re a bit biased here at Wests but if he is not the next man in if Michael Hooper is out then they don’t know what they are doing.”

For the Two Blues Jordan Williams showed his speed out wide to flash over for a try and fly half Rory Garrett continued to run a neat show.

But in the end Wests just had too much speed and were a lot better organised for their rivals.

WEST HARBOUR 50 (Damien Fleming, James Turner 4, Conor Chittenden. Justin Tavae 2 tries; Patrick Pellegrini 4 conversions, DP de Lange conversion) d WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES 15 (Peni Tuitupou, Jordan Williams tries; Rory Garrett conversion, pen goal) at Taplin Oval. 

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY