By MARK CASHMAN

The six teams that will play finals footy in the 2020 Shute Shield have been decided after Round 12 of the competition was run and won on Saturday.

Manly’s win over Southern Districts at Forshaw and Eastwood’s big win over Warringah settled the final six with the final seedings being decided by Round 13 action this coming Saturday.

Big winner on the day was Sydney Uni, out scrumming Norths throughout the 80 minutes to win 34-15.

Elsewhere West Harbour got a morale boosting win against the Hunter Wildfires in Newcastle while at Nepean Gordon sealed the minor premiership with a 97-0 victory over Penrith.

In the other game Easts got home against the West Sydney Two Blues at Lidcombe Oval.

Here’s out take from all the action.

SYDNEY UNI V NORTHERN SUBURBS

Sydney Uni showed that there was still plenty of life and one hell of a scrum as they beat Northern Suburbs 34-15 in the 7FLIX TV match of the round on Saturday.

The Students hadn’t won since their Round Eight encounter with West Harbour at the start of September falling to Easts, Randwick and then Gordon in as many weeks, but they sent a shot across the bow of the other finalists with grinding style of game made for the playoffs.

Uni didn’t concentrate too much beyond their set piece and it paid dividends as they forced Norths on to the back foot and forced them to concede two penalty tries and three yellow cards.

The win along with the loss by Southern Districts at Forshaw meant that the final six has been settled with Gordon, Norths, Eastwood, Easts, Randwick and Uni will all to play finals footy in 2020.

Next weekend’s final minor premiership round will decide the pecking order and who plays who in the first week of the playoffs.

Norths were very much on the back foot in the early stages of the game and despite the vast majority of field position and possession Uni only went into the halftime break with a 7-0 lead.

But the Uni scrum headed by Tom Robertson, Declan Moore and Chris Talaki were taking a toll  and the Shoremen increasingly had to scramble to keep themselves in touch.

Every scrum seemed to end with Norths under pressure and led to either scrappy ball or a penalty to the Students.

Uni coach Michael Hodge said: “It wasn’t the free flowing match that both sides would have expected – it was more like the grind that you see in a fas game.

“We’ve had a couple of really good weeks of preparation and we’re pleased to get the outcome, especially after a disappointing result last weekend (against Gordon where they let a 19-3 lead slip).

“There’s still some things we’ll need to refine as we take on the big Two Blues pack this weekend, but we’re building nicely heading into the finals.

“Norths are a good attacking side, however our defence put them under pressure. Great job from them to keep pushing and fighting.

“Don’t be surprised if you see us go head to head again in the first round of finals.”

Norths coach Earl Va’a said a scrum going backwards and three yellow cards made the winning of a game of this nature difficult.

“A scrum going backwards and three yellow cards, Uni are a good side and don’t need that sort of help to win,” Va’a said.

“We didn’t get too many of the 50-50 calls but that sort of stuff happens when you are on the back foot a bit.

“I don’t think that we have turned into a bad team overnight, we just need to lock down our scrum and make some good decisions on the offside line with our defence.

“Then we need to be smarter about how we enter the breakdowns.”

The win saw Uni keep their hands on the John Thornett Cup.

SYDNEY UNI 34 (Tom Robertson, Matthew Hood tries, 2 penalty tries; Stu Dunbar 2 conversions, 2 pen goals) d NORTHERN SUBURBS 15 (Nick Duffy, Max Burey tries; Angus Sinclair conversion, pen goal) at University No.2.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V MANLY

Manly Marlins coach Matt McGoldrick has spoken consistently through this year’s Shute Shield about the need for his side to keep working and to play games out.

The Marlins have been pretty damn good at different times and at other stages they have veered away from the task at hand as their ninth place on the competition table indicates.

But the ability and the desire to keep the work rate up and get lucky was there on Saturday when they swooped late to defeat Southern Districts 43-39 for a grand victory at Forshaw.

A try to emerging young forward Max Douglas late gave the Marlins the win as they finished off their season with some style in a game that bounced around delightfully for most of the 80 minutes.

The Marlins led only twice during the game, once early in the second half and then importantly at the death.

McGoldrick said the work rate of his pack around the field was the winning of the game.

“We just hung around and when we got ball our attack functioned much better,” he said.

“I’m really happy for the boys, they showed a great deal of commitment and could’ve easily checked it in, but they didn’t.

“We functioned really well off turnover, scored a couple of tries of that.”

Rugby News reported in the lead in to this match up that this was the grand final between the teams who have been hit most by injury but there was certainly no indication that this was not a first grade fixture.

The Southern Districts scrum worked as well as you would expect, there was good work from Christian Kagiassis at flyhalf and Nathan Lawson continues to make an impression at outside centre for the Rebels.

“It was two teams absolutely busted up against each other,” Souths coach Todd Louden said.

“They guys were out on their feet and really it just came down to last man standing.

“It was a see-sawing affair throughout but Manly with guys like Harry Bergelin were able to make the most of any opportunities that came up.

“Speaking to Matt McGoldrick after the game we spoke of our shared challenges this year but agreed that both these team will be better for what we have been through in 2020.”

MANLY MARLINS 43 (Max Douglas, Harley Attwater, Ben Crerar, Fraser Toohey, Yool Yool, Dave Porecki tries; Attwater 4 conversions) d SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 39 (Joe Cotton, Jordan Brown, James Finch, Christian Kagiassis, Nathan Lawson, Liam Moseley tries; Kagiassis 3 conversions, pen goal) at Forshaw Rugby Park.

EASTWOOD V WARRINGAH

Mark Nawaqanitawase flashed over for three tries but it was his side’s defence that had Eastwood coach Ben Batger talking in the wake of the Woodies 47-21 win over Warringah on Saturday.

The Woodies led 47-7 with five minutes left on the clock and although they loosened up a but in those final minutes Batger said it was some of the best footy he had seen all season.

“Yes I think we bounced off the bye fairly well and between the 15th and 65th minute we played some of our best football of the year,” Batger said.

“Through all the points that we scored the most pleasing aspect was our defence.

“It was 47-7 with only five minutes to go so that’s a fairly good indication that our defence and attitude was on.

“If we hold the ball I know we can score points and I think we built some good pressure against Warringah but there is still lots to work on.”

Early on though the exchanges were robust and the two teams traded tries from Pat Sio (Eastwood) and Boyd Killingworth (Warringah).

But from that point it was all Woodies with tries coming from Matt Gonzalez, Fabian Goodall and
Nawaqanitawase.

All the while Tane Edmed was turning the fives into sevens to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The win sets up a crack at finishing second on the ladder but that chance will have to be taken by beating the minor premiers Gordon.

“Honestly it’s too hard to predict where we are going to finish,” Batger said.

“Our attention has to go to Gordon which is a blockbuster 1 vs 3 in the final round of 2020 and we will be aiming to finish the regular season on a high.”

Warringah coach Mike Ruthven said the Rats were well beaten on Saturday.

“Credit to Eastwood, they will trouble some teams come finals time,” Ruthven said.

“We had some chances in the first half that we weren’t able to finish off. Had we been able to capitalise on those it may have changed the momentum of the game but we weren’t good enough.

“It was disappointing as we had a lot to play for and really needed a result to keep the flame burning in our season.

“I have to look back and reflect on how I prepared the group as we didn’t get a performance that was reflective of a team who’s season was on the line.”

Ben Marr again was in everything and created linebreaks and opportunities. Seb Wileman made some strong carries and really looked to have a physical presence.

Rory Suttor provided some real energy and punch off the bench.

EASTWOOD 47 (Patrick Sio, Matt Gonzalez 2, Fabian Goodall, Mark Nawaqanitawase 3 tries; Tane Edmed 6 conversions) d WARRINGAH 21 (Boyd Killingworth, Josh Holmes Harry Anderson Brown tries; Ben Marr 3 conversions) at TG Millner Field.

PENRITH V GORDON

It’s fair enough to say that Gordon mentor Darren Coleman has done a few laps during his coaching career, won premierships and turned a few ailing clubs in the right direction.

Coleman has coached at Norths, Penrith, Easts, Warringah and now Gordon but he reckons this group of Highlanders has best attitude of them all.

The Highlanders secured the minor premiership on Saturday at the foot of the mountains as they raced away from Penrith in a 97-0 win.

“The beauty of this group over the past two years, more so than any team I’ve coached is attitudinally they rarely have a bad day,” Coleman said.

“Eastwood in round five last year and Norths earlier this season were the only two games I’ve been involved where I thought this team were out enthused or at least not equal.

“Every week they give at least an 8 out of 10 in attitude and hence our results this year have been consistent.

“It’s a coaches dream. I was pleased with their focus and execution on Saturday when it could have been less.

“Next week we play for the club championship and Sir Roden Cutler Shield so it’ll be another exciting week with rewards at the end if we work hard enough.

I believe you need to celebrate the good days as they don’t happen regularly and winning the minor premiership made it a good day.”

The scoreline wasn’t a good look for the Shute Shield with Penrith invited to remain part of the competition next year.

But Coleman reckons that the scoreline wasn’t a true indication of what is going on up there at Penrith.

“The scoreline was surprising. I was at Penrith in 2017 with the Rats and Penrith were kicked out after that game,” Coleman said.

“The place is different now, it was dead then. This trip I was very happy to see, a small crowd but most importantly, lots of new volunteers, things were well organised, there was music playing and all their teams had decent numbers.

“They were always going to have a few dips in the season and this was one for them. The place has a pulse and is worth persevering with. I didn’t feel that in 2017.”

GORDON 97 (Peter Chanel Tagaloa, Brendan Mitchell, Jacob Abel, Oli Smeallie 2, Ellis Abrahams, Tautalatasi Tasi 3, Reed MacDonald, Lucas Price, Mike Pavlakis, Ahmu Tuimalealiifano, Jack Dempsey tries; Harrison Goddard 11 conversions) d PENRITH 0 at Nepean Rugby Park.

WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES V EASTERN SUBURBS

Eastern Suburbs continued to rack the wins up with a 52-36 victory over the Western Sydney Two Blues but coach Pauli Taumoepeau said he would be looking for more in the coming weeks.

The Beasties scored eight tries to six in a match that delivered 88 points all up but didn’t really get into any sort of rhythm until the middle stages of the game.

The Two Blues actually kicked off the scoring for the afternoon with a try to left winger Phil Pale and also got their nose in front again when Niko Dalivusa scored down the right flank.

From there Easts scored five tries to surge to 35-12 lead before the Two Blues came back and tries to Sione Fifita and a double to Saiyasi Ikanidrodro reeled in the scoreline.

The two teams then went score for score for much of the rest of the 80 minutes with the Two Blues finishing off the game with a try to Josh Delailoa.

Through all this Will Maddocks was making the most of his first start in the top grade four the Beasties for some time by scoring a hat-trick of tries.

One of things that coach Taumoepeau was happy with was the continuing involvement of their late season recruit Rob Leota.

“We didn’t really click to be honest but in saying that the Two Blues were solid,” Taumoepeau said.

“They played direct and hard with their big ball carriers and made some decent territory and at times we didn’t respond well defensively.

“On a positive front Rob Leota was outstanding for us. He’s starting to find some rhythm within our style of play.”

And for the rest of the Shute Shield with the finals only a fortnight away is an ominous warning.

Two Blues coach Joel Rivers said the loss of Rory Garrett in the first half to an ankle injury proved to be game changing.

“Rory has been our only 10 steering the ship for the season,” Rivers said.

“Phil Pale stood in at 10 and did an admirable job but unfortunately it was a bit hit and miss from there.

“We had our opportunities again to challenge Easts but simple errors really hurt us like kicking the ball dead in touch.

“Tepai was our man of the match with a great game. We are all hoping he can stay in rugby and not be forced back to league.”

EASTERN SUBURBS 52 (Vunipola Fifita, Cohan Guerra, Blake Rixon, Henry Paterson, Zac Woolford, Will Maddocks 3 tries; Daniel Donato 6 conversions) d WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES 36 (Sione Fifita, Phil Pale, Niko Dalivusa, Saiyasi Ikanidrodro 2, Josh Delailoa tries; Liam Tully conversion, Rory Garrett conversion) at Lidcombe Oval.

HUNTER WILDFIRES V WEST HARBOUR

West Harbour travelled to Newcastle expecting an arm wrestle against the Hunter Wildfires and in their 41-26 victory on Saturday that’s exactly what they got.

Wests coach Mark Gudmunson tipped his hat to the stickability of the hosts.

“What a great facility they have up there,” Gudmunson said.

“It was an interesting game where I thought that we were always in control, but we just could not get a really big gap like the previous week against the Two Blues.

“That is a credit to Scott (Coleman) and the Wildfires players, they did not stop ‘till the final whistle.”

In the end Wests scored six tries to four and in the formative stages of the game worked their way to a 15-0 before Wildfires centre Chase Hicks got the home side on the board with a five pointer.

There were some major disruptions for the Wildfires before the game with their Tongan Test scrum half Mahe Fangupo having to head to Forbes for personal reasons.

That saw Paul Dan start in the No.9 jersey while Wildfires coach Scott Coleman also rotated in a couple of fresh forwards as they come to terms with the tough nature and grind of the Shute Shield.

The halftime score was 15-5 to Wests and although there were some bright spots for the Wildfires they were far from being consistent.

“One of the big things has been a lack of preparation [before the start of the season] and a lot of injuries at the moment, but I can’t fault the commitment and attitude and want to compete at this level,” Coleman told the Newcastle Herald.

“We’re just too patchy. On and the off. When we’re on we can score some really good tries and put together some really good passages of play.

“But we switch off for 10 minutes and we fall off tackles and let our opposition score two or three tries.”

On the Wests side of the ledger Damien Fleming played his 50th game for the club and worked hard all day.

Tavite Gadeisuva switch to blindside breakaway was successful, according too Gunmunson said.

“Tavite really showed some good touches through the middle and was great on the ball in defence while our whole scrum was really strong again.”

WEST HARBOUR 41 (Jordan Sharp, Tavite Gadeisuva, Dion Spice, Patrick Pellegrini, James Turner, Justin Tavaetries; Pellegrini 3 conversions, pen goal, Kodie Drury-Hawkins conversion) d HUNTER WILDFIRES 26 (George Noa, Hamish McKie 2, Chase Hicks tries; Paul Dan conversion, Taulogo Lalaga 2 conversions) at Newcastle No.2 Sportsground.

RANDWICK had the bye

IMAGE: AJF PHOTOGRAPHY