Gordon have put in one of the most impressive second halves of the season, turning a narrow half-time lead into a 42-7 victory over Randwick at Coogee Oval.

The Highlanders weren’t the only side to enjoy a big win, with Eastwood, Warringah, Eastern Suburbs and Manly each scoring over 40 points on their way to strong victories.

Sydney University maintained their place at the top of the table when they defeated fourth-placed West Harbour at home.

RANDWICK V GORDON at Coogee Oval
Gordon scored a confidence-building win over Randwick, running in five second half tries on their way to a 42-7 victory at Coogee Oval.

After honours were just about even in the opening forty minutes, Gordon’s defensive power resulted in attacking dominance and the Highlanders’ second victory over Randwick this season.

The loss was just Randwick’s third of the season and the first time they have lost at home in 2008.

The opening half was one of the hardest fought of the season, with Randwick dominating early field position but unable to crack the Gordon defence in their red zone.

When the pendulum swung back to Gordon midway through the stanza it was the Wicks whose defence was on fire, however one infringement too many gave Dave Harvey the chance to open the scoring.

The Highlanders No.10 put the attempt wide, and after that point Randwick again went on the attack.

The ball was generally kept down the Gordon end of the field, however twice errant passes went to ground allowing the Highlanders to break into the Randwick half. Strong cover defence on both occasions kept the scoreboard attendants in their seats.

In the closing ten minutes of the first half both sides were guilty of conceding free kicks and penalties and were lucky not to lose anyone to the sin bin.

Eventually weight of possession bore fruit for Gordon when Mark Preston crossed with just seconds remaining in the half.

Dave Harvey’s conversion gifted the Highlanders a 7-0 half-time lead.

Gordon came out firing in the second half, and Harvey looked to apply more scoreboard pressure with a long-range drop goal however it was just short.

It took until only the fifth minute of the half before Gordon touched down for the second time, a long ball finding hooker Alex Gluth lurking on the sideline with the former England junior international scoring his second try in as many weeks. Harvey again converted for a 14-0 advantage.

Randwick hit back quickly when a breakout from their own half released Francis Fainifo down the left flank. An infield kick found space and when Fainifo regathered, his offload caught his own foot, bounced forward and into the hands of Bernie Orbell who scored under the posts.

Danny Kroll made no mistake to reduce the margin to seven points with half an hour to play.

However that was to be the last glimmer of hope for the Wicks.

Gordon hit back immediately when a Sinclair Fisher-Grey break provided great field position. A free kick close to the Randwick line then allowed Craig Thomas to go over for Gordon’s third try, Harvey’s conversion extending the lead to 21-7.

The Highlanders went straight on the attack again, and a penalty gave Harvey the chance to extend the lead again however the attempt missed to the right.

Randwick struggled to clear the own territory and continually found themselves on the back foot. Eventually the pressure proved too much when Viliame Ratu broke the line and found Fischer-Grey who crossed out wide.

The try was Gordon’s fourth earning them a bonus point, with Harvey’s conversion taking the score to 28-7.

Randwick started to put pressure on in the final quarter of the game, however too often play came unstuck. With two tries in their mind to get within seven points, the Wicks spread the ball left with ten minutes to play however an intercept to Sisa Waqa sent the flying winger on a 90 metre run to the line.

Two minutes later Dave Harvey was the recipient of a gift intercept as well, however he only had to run five metres to score under the posts, convert his own try and take the lead to 42-7.

The victory moves Gordon to within three points of Sydney University at the top of the Shute Shield Table, while Randwick remain in third despite the loss.
Gordon 42 (Mark Preston, Alex Gluth, Craig Thomas, Sinclair Fischer-Grey, Sisa Waqa, Dave Harvey tries; Dave Harvey 6 cons) d Randwick 7 (Bernie Orbell try; Danny Kroll con) v at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Gordon 7-0. Referee: Grant MacNeill

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V WEST HARBOUR at University Oval No.1
Sydney University has come from behind in the second half to defeat West Harbour 25-20 at University Oval.

In what is a testament to the competition leader’s superior fitness, the Students overcame a 17-15 deficit at the break to record their twelfth victory of the season.

Flyhalf Dan Kelly was on fire for the Students, scoring two tries, two conversions and two penalties on the way to a 20-point haul.

West Harbour earned a bonus point from the match, edging them closer to third place on the table.
Sydney University 25 (Dan P Kelly 2, David Fungalei tries; Dan P Kelly 2 cons, 2 pens) d West Harbour 20 (James King, Lester Salanoa tries; Ben Martin 2 cons, 2 pens) at University Oval No.1. Half-time: West Harbour 17-15. Referee: Steve Hardy

PENRITH V EASTERN SUBURBS at Western Weekender Stadium
Eastern Suburbs has scored a big victory over Penrith at Western Weekender Stadium, with Gavin Debartolo the star player in the 55-5 win.

In his first match for the Beasts since returning from representing USA at the Churchill Cup, Debartolo scored three tries and five conversions on his way to a personal tally of 25 points.

The victory keeps Easts within a win of sixth place, and with a six point buffer back to eighth.
Eastern Suburbs 55 (Gavin Debartolo 3, Tom Egan, Ben Hopkins, Will Brock, Afusipa Taumeopeau, Tom Azar, Anton LaVin tries; Gavin Debartolo 5 cons) d Penrith 5 (Brent Varga try) at Western Weekender Stadium. Half-time: Eastern Suburbs 33-5. Referee: Nathan Pearce
EASTWOOD V NORTHERN SUBURBS at T.G. Millner Field
Eastwood has maintained fifth position on the Shute Shield table with a confidence building 42-22 victory over Northern Suburbs at T.G. Millner Field.

Northern Suburbs were well in the game, trailing by just five at half-time, however Eastwood kicked away in the second forty to record a 20-point victory.

Filipo Toala bagged a hat-trick while Ben Batger continued his impressive pointscoring, kicking 17 points.

The result lifts Eastwood to within four points of West Harbour, while Northern Suburbs now sit 14 points outside the top six with nine matches to play.
Eastwood 42 (Filipo Toala 3, Mark Frost, Josh Holmes tries; Ben Batger 4 cons, 3 pens) d Northern Suburbs 22 (Tim Archibald, Sam Latunipulu, Corey Brown tries; Chris Burnett 2 cons, pen) at T.G. Millner Field. Half-time: Eastwood 15-10. Referee: Damien Mitchelmore

WARRINGAH V PARRAMATTA at Pittwater Rugby Park
Warringah continues to occupy sixth place on the Shute Shield ladder, with a 27-point second half guiding the Rats to a 42-3 victory over Parramatta at Pittwater Rugby Park.

Brumbies hooker Huia Edmonds scored two tries for the Rats, while Clint Eadie piloted 17 points from four conversions and three penalties.

The result keeps Warringah four points ahead of Eastern Suburbs, while the Two Blues are still in eighth, ten points out of the top six.
Warringah 42 (Huia Edmonds 2, Scott Fardy, Ed Doyle, Willie Bishop tries; Clint Eadie 4 cons, 3 pens) v Parramatta 3 (Josh Weeks pen) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Warringah 15-3. Referee:  Andrew Lees
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V MANLY at Forshaw Rugby Park
After going down by one point in their first encounter this season, Manly turned the tables on Southern Districts running out 44-7 victors at Forshaw Rugby Park.

The return of Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith proved decisive in the Marlins midfield, with Smith and centre partner Luke Johnson crossing for three tries between them.

Manly put the match beyond doubt in the first half, running out to a 27-0 lead, Adam D’Arcy scoring 14 points for the Marlins.

Southern Districts’ round two victory over Manly remains the Rebels’ only victory for 2008, while Manly move to ninth place, 12 points outside of finals contention.
Manly 44 (Luke Johnson 2, Dylan Sigg, Daniel Collins, Adam D’Arcy, Tyrone Smith, Lupini Siale,  tries; Adam D’Arcy 3 cons, pen) d Southern Districts 7 (James McCormack try; Michael Black con)  at Forshaw Rugby Park. Half-time: Manly 27-0. Referee: Taku Otsuki (Japan)

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