Spherical seven lit up the Shute Defend with tries galore, penalty drop objectives, maul mayhem and some naughty boys thrown in for good measure. From the Wildfires’ assertion win to Wicks working riot, it was blow-for-blow rugby throughout the grounds and a weekend that proved nothing’s predictable in 2025.
Forward of spherical eight, we’ve damaged down what occurred final weekend.
West Harbour v Japanese Suburbs
Easts def West 55-12
The opening minutes went to the reigning champs, silky ball motion from edge to edge from 1 to fifteen (acquired to present the forwards some credit score or they really feel ignored), and Joel Cobb went over for his or her first. A poor kick from Pirates created an excessive amount of strain, and on the entrance foot, Easts went to their maul. Attempt time, Julian Heaven.
Harbour had a crack however have been disorganised, their ball retention was poor within the first half and their assault too lateral. To make issues worse, Chris Bell confirmed he was within the flawed sport, nudging the ball down the road a few occasions to regather and rating. Fairly common half of footy, however a well-worked maul from the hosts caught the champs napping, Rob Irimescu ending off the half.
‘Twas Beasties who went “we we we” all the way in which residence within the second half, scoring 38 factors. Jack Grant opened the account two minutes in. Three minutes later, David Vaihu completed off an all-too-easy midfield scrum assault.
“Babylon hath fallen,” they cried as large, unhealthy Reon Lowery crashed over. Henry Palmer sliced via a sloppy Wests kick chase and put Jack More durable-Wells in. Twinkle-toes Cooper Whiteside regathered a chip and chase dangerously near the sideline and danced his approach in.
Pirates confirmed a little bit of aptitude and used their large boys to punch holes late within the recreation. Onehunga Kaufusi topped off a torpid day for the Harmony residents, however sadly it was Ciaran Sales space who walked his approach in, Easts with the final chuckle.
Randwick v Souths
Randwick def Souths 49-21
Wicks began on prime, beating Souths’ defence across the nook, Lawson Creighton dove over. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Isi Naisarani pushed his approach via a poor defensive fold that lacked aggression. Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens put Souths on the map not lengthy earlier than the half. A slow-motion counterattack from Lawson Creighton (critically, the place was the defence?) stepped 4 to place Tim Sippel beneath the sticks.
There was a little bit of a task reversal within the half-time sheds as Souths hit again first via Declan Miller Papadakis, catching Wicks napping at ruck time. Creighton confirmed his class once more, placing Joe Browning away to extend their lead. Souths responded with a fantastic charge-down from Allan Ferrie to convey them to inside seven. Joel Ellis took it into his personal palms, Wicks prolong the margin. Lineout time proved fruitful for Randwick, exposing Souths’ poor short-side D, Hamish Comonte completed.
Lastly, we get our naughty boy! Lachlan Frean, have a seat son. A person down and the sport all however executed, Michael McDonald went inside his reverse quantity, burned the winger and Wicks ended simply shy of fifty.
Manly v Eastwood
Eastwood def Manly 26-29
Marlins out to show a much-needed level, Wilson Dulieu with a cracking end out broad. Eastwood struck again as Isikelo Fukofuka bashed his approach over from shut vary. Robbie McIntosh returned serve, crashing over, which, for a quantity 10, is kind of spectacular we are able to all admit. Eastwood uncovered Manly’s poor short-side defence down the channel, Daniel Stovold strolled in. We love a little bit of tit for tat. Having seemingly shaken off the heebie-jeebies from the last few fixtures, Manly continued the rally via Oliver Horne. Thirty-three factors after 31 minutes, about time.
Eastwood rolled and rolled across the nook, Lachlan Shelley, the person can’t cease scoring and at this time was no completely different. Half-time and a impasse at 19–19.
Manly regarded harmful at the beginning of the second half, however it was Eastwood who scored first, Brian Tuilagi boosted over. Eastwood have been knocking on the door, however Manly’s defence was one of the best we’ve seen because the Norths recreation. Manly line-break down the left edge, knocked down by Eastwood however scooped up by McIntosh for his double. Twenty-six all with 16 to play. Ninety seconds later, Eastwood received the penalty, Cole Spinks put them in entrance. It was a bloody tense end, however a Woodies scrum pen swung momentum. Marlins turned the ball over solely to present away a penalty for a tip sort out on the ruck… me oh my, does it worsen?
Warringah v Gordon
Warringah def Gordon 18-8
The opening minutes have been a correct tussle, however the Rats opened the scoring, Coby Miln with three from out broad, then ten minutes later, extra of the identical. Gordon lastly struck again via Will Kaye, three from the Englishman. Gee whiz, you wouldn’t be blamed for dozing off, till abruptly, eight to play within the half, poor exit from Gordon, fast lineout, Tyson Davis down the sting, taking three males with him, strive time. Issues acquired rather more thrilling when the half-time bell noticed plenty of hugs and kisses distributed. Ref didn’t see it, let’s get on with it.
Gordon fired the primary rocket, Otumaka Mausia shot into the nook, large man, large time participant. Easy catch go adopted by a not-so-simple end by Sir Lank-a-lot Ben Woollett. Whereas it was a detailed rating, it wasn’t essentially the most exhilarating recreation; to be honest, it was largely Gordon within the second half, however possession doesn’t at all times win video games because the Rats confirmed.
Sydney Uni v Two Blues
Two Blues def Uni 39-36
Miscommunication round working the tee as Uni opened with three factors, ever seen a drop kick for 3? First time I’ve needed to do one. Parra hit again with a fantastic kick-off, constructed strain and their maul did the remaining, Fionn Clifford flopped over. Poor self-discipline from the College students gifted Reece Suesue three factors. Uni managed to carry possession for a number of minutes, lastly grinding down a sturdy Two Blues defence, Jack Matthews dotted down.
Blow for blow is the theme of this week’s spherical. One other assault shortly after the kick-off and Two Blues dazzled down the wing because of particular person brilliance from Latrell Ah Kiong, offloading to a diving Cody Nordstrom. Suesue added one other three within the closing minutes of the half. Uni chased onerous off the kick-off, poor exit from Parramatta, Uni lineout and Sione Harris bashed over. One other kick-off turnover, possession and momentum, a really cheeky kick from Suesue to Nordstrom for his double.
The second half, very similar to the primary, noticed Parra strike first: Tovo Faleafa, thanks for coming. Felix Kalapu got here and went, naughty boy. Uni capitalised with Ethan Dobbins hiding behind the maul to get his first. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Uni struck once more, Lukas Ripley put them inside one. The redhead with the pen put Uni in entrance and with 5 to play we now have a recreation. Poor self-discipline and fast pondering from the person in pink headgear, Rilloy Suesue, fast faucet and off he went. Sport, set, Two Blues.
Former Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has had a robust return to Shute Defend. (Photograph by Mark Tantrum/Getty Pictures)
Wildfires v Northern Suburbs
Wildfires def Norths 40-20
Electrical begin from Hunter as they crossed after only one minute, Frankie Nowell with the end. Norths nearly fired again with a strive of their very own, Matt Minogue put three on the scoresheet. Philip Talaileva elevated the lead for the Wildfires. Norths have been hungry for extra, taking part in with velocity and working some onerous strains, Seamus Smith doing what good nines do and sniped his approach in. Hunter held the ball nicely, they regarded composed and organised, Daniel Maiava completed off nice part play. Some large carries and slick offloads put Nowell in once more. Late within the half, a well-worked maul from Norths and Sam Kitchen was in.
Hunter saved up their velocity within the second half, exhibiting their confidence and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Brendan Palmer went in out broad. Moments later he acquired his second, the Wildfires’ maul was unstoppable and their velocity across the nook an excessive amount of to deal with. Norths lastly taking part in with a little bit of gusto, good assault down the quick facet put Tom Bacon in to slim the hole ever so barely. Each groups went backwards and forwards, however that was all she wrote. Somebody cease the Wildfires.
