Randwick has streaked away to the biggest win of the season while Penrith secured their first victory for 2008 in round eight of the Tooheys New Shute Shield.

Only five matches were played this weekend, with the Sydney University-Eastwood clash deferred as the Students are currently in Brisbane to play Sunnybank in the Australian Club Championship.

RANDWICK V WARRINGAH AT COOGEE OVAL

Randwick have moved to third on the Shute Shield table after scoring nine unanswered tries in their 59-0 victory over Warringah at Coogee Oval.

Metui Maile scored a hat-trick, while the competition’s leading try scorer Ratu Nasiganiyavi crossed four times to extend his season tally to 13.

Randwick opened the scoring in just the fourth minute when Metui Maile crossed next to the posts, then Nasiganiyavi made a trademark bulldozing run from 50m out to extend the lead to 14-0 after just five minutes.

In the 19th minute Randwick were rewarded for a dominant period of possession when Josh Valentine used his speed from a lineout to stroll through a gap and send Maile on a path to his second try. Browne missed the conversion from almost in front leaving the Wicks up 19-0.

In the 23rd minute Ben Mowen was shown a yellow card for a deliberate infringement giving Warringah their best opportunity of the first half.

When the Waratahs squad member returned ten minutes later the Rats had been unable to close the gap. Mowen may have preferred to stay off the ground for longer as less than a minute after returning he went over on his ankle and was forced from the field.

Warringah had their best chance three minutes from halftime when a turnover saw the ball swing right however Ed Doyle was held up in the corner.

A penalty attempt by Browne just before the break went wide leaving Randwick with a 19-0 half-time lead.

It took only 90 seconds of the second half for Randwick to secure their bonus point, and it was not surprising it came from Nasiganiyavi’s 11th try for the season. What was surprising was that it wasn’t brute force that got the big winger over the line, rather a perfectly weighted chip and chase from 50 metres out before scoring under the posts.

Quick hands three minutes later saw Nasiganiyavi secure his hat-trick with a tip-toeing effort down the left flank. Browne’s sideline conversion extended Randwick’s lead to 33-0.

A breakout from inside their own half was reminiscent of some of the great Randwick sides, however play broke down just metres from the line. Soon after however Maile crossed for his third adjacent to the posts and the Galloping Greens were out to 40-0.

The floodgates were well and truly open when Nasiganiyavi crossed for number four and his 13th for the season. Browne’s wide out conversion made the score 47-0, however play was then stopped for around ten minutes with Randwick captain Chris Houston stretchered from the field with a neck injury.

Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu showed his agility and balance when he ran for 25 metres within a couple of feet of the right touchline, beating two defenders to score the only points of the game for the Randwick forwards. Browne again added the extras from the sideline for a 54-0 advantage after 64 minutes.

Warringah battled well in the closing stages, however David Batiratu put the icing on an already impressive cake when he crossed for Randwick’s ninth try, leaving them with a 59-0 win, the biggest victory of the 2008 Shute Shield.

Randwick 59 (Ratu Nasiganiyavi 4, Metui Maile 3, Sekope Kepu, David Batiratu tries; Toby Browne 7 cons) d Warringah 0 at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Randwick 19-0. Referee: Julian Pritchard.

EASTERN SUBURBS V WEST HARBOUR AT WOOLLAHRA OVAL

West Harbour continued their impressive 2008 season with a bonus point 36-14 victory over Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.

Rory Sidey scored two tries for the Pirates, while Ben Martin collected an 11 point haul as West Harbour remained in second place on the Shute Shield ladder.

Eastern Suburbs never recovered after trailing 22-0 at half-time and have now dropped four of their last five matches.
West Harbour  36 (Rory Sidey 2, Dave Paurini, James King, John Sinisa tries; Ben Martin 4 cons, pen) d Eastern Suburbs 14 (Tom Egan, Vitori Buatava tries; Vitori Buatava 2 cons) at Woollahra Oval. Half-time: West Harbour 22-0. Referee: Daniel Cheever.

GORDON V MANLY AT CHATSWOOD OVAL

Gordon scored six tries to one at Chatswood Oval as they ran out 34-10 victors over Manly.

Having put their season back on track with victories in the last two rounds, Manly were expected to trouble the Highlanders and trailed by just five at the break.

However Gordon scored four second half tries to nil as they ran away with the game, wingers Terry Preston and Sisa Waqa each collecting a double.
Gordon 34 (Terry Preston 2, Sisa Waqa 2, Viliame Ratu, Nifo Nifo tries; Dave Harvey 2 cons) d Manly 10 (Luke Johnson try; Daniel Collins con, pen) at Chatswood Oval. Half-time: Gordon 12-7. Referee: Andrew Lees.

PENRITH V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS AT NEPEAN RUGBY PARK

After going so close in recent weeks, Penrith finally broke their 2008 duck with a 24-15 victory over Southern Districts at Nepean Rugby Park.

The Emus scored four tries for the fourth time this season to collect maximum points and lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

Souths have now lost their last six matches and have been relegated to last on the table.
Penrith 24 (Rob Carlson, Luke Williams, Jeremy Sua, Patrick Mekuri tries; Jono Rolfe 2 cons) d Southern Districts 15 (James McCormack 2, Dennis Pili tries) at Nepean Rugby Park. Half-time: Penrith 17-10. Referee: Ian Smith.

PARRAMATTA V NORTHERN SUBURBS AT TWO BLUES PARK

Parramatta established themselves as semi final contenders with a 31-8 victory over Northern Suburbs at Two Blues Park.

The Two Blues scored four tries to one and are now just one competition point out of the top six after three wins and a draw from their last five rounds.

After leading the competition after two rounds, Northern Suburbs have now slipped to ninth on the ladder having dropped five of their last six matches.
Parramatta 31 (Scott Podmore, Brian Sefanaia, Dave Alo, Tito Mua tries; Josh Weeks 4 cons, pen) d Northern Suburbs 8 (Seamus Ross try; Todd Sly pen) at Two Blues Park. Half-time: Parramatta 14-8. Referee: James Scholtens.

---