West Harbour displayed the brand of football which has taken them to the top four with a 46-36 victory over Warringah at Concord Oval.

The Pirates were not the only impressive team this weekend, with Randwick and Northern Suburbs each scoring over 60 points while Sydney University and Gordon ensured all teams in the top four collected victories.

Eastwood came from behind to defeat Parramatta and move to fifth on the table, while Warringah remained in the top six despite their loss to West Harbour

WEST HARBOUR V WARRINGAH at Concord Oval
West Harbour scored eight tries to six in a thrilling 46-36 victory over Warringah at Concord Oval.

John Sinisa and Lester Salanoa each scored hat-tricks as the Pirates overcame a half-time deficit to record yet another exciting win.

The Pirates dominated the second half, with two late consolation tries to Warringah narrowing the margin.

Warringah had the best of the early play however the closest they came to first points was knocking the ball on a metre short of the corner post.

West Harbour’s first foray inside Rats’ territory bore fruit via a penalty which Ben Martin slotted for a 3-0 lead in the tenth minute.

The Pirates were left ruing a number of errors in the lead-up to Warringah’s opening try of the match.

After West Harbour conceded a penalty deep in Rats territory Warringah failed to find touch, however a knock-on handed back possession. In the next sequence Warringah kicked into touch, but a crooked throw gifted the Rats a free kick ten metres out and when the ball was spread to the right wing Michael Letts crossed for his first try of 2008.

Clint Eadie’s conversion took Warringah out to a 7-3 advantage in the 17th minute.

However just four minutes later West Harbour were back in front and it was again an error which resulted in points.

With Warringah piling on the pressure after their first try, an errant pass in traffic was snapped up by John Sinisa who shrugged off the final defender in a 60 metre run to the line. The try was Sinisa’s 14th of the season lifting him to the top of the Shute Shield tryscorers list and the Pirates to an 8-7 lead after Martin’s conversion drifted away on the strong breeze.

Warringah regained the kick-off and went close again, however as the game became more fragmented it played right into West Harbour’s hands.

Nick Reily continued to break the line with pure pace, however it was a missed tackle on Lester Salanoa which gifted the inside centre a 35 metre run to the Pirates’ second try.

Again Martin’s conversion attempt from wide out was taken late by the wind and West Harbour led 13-7 at the half hour mark.

Taking advantage of errors was quickly become the order of the day, and when Sam Raymond dropped a kick into touch, Warringah were handed a lineout inside the Pirates 22.

The Rats quickly shifted the ball right and Ed Doyle was on the end of the movement to touch down in the corner for his sixth try of the year. Eadie’s conversion was wide leaving West Harbour with a 13-12 lead after 36 minutes.

West Harbour only had themselves to blame for conceding the half-time lead. A lineout win after the siren turned into a knock-on, a loss of possession, a penalty and in the end Doyle dropped over just inches from where he crossed minutes earlier for Warringah’s third try.

Eadie’s sideline conversion sent the Rats to the break with a 19-13 lead.

A knock-on by Warringah from the kick-off gave West Harbour good attacking position, and yet again it was turned into points with Sinisa collecting a double just 48 seconds into the half.

Martin missed his third conversion attempt leaving Warringah with a one-point advantage.

The Rats had the opportunity to go further ahead soon after, however two penalty attempts were turned down in favour of gunning for a try which never came.

The game continued to teeter on the edge, and as it was in the first half play became more disjointed as both sides struggled to gain the ascendency. This played straight into the Pirates hands, and when another crucial turnover in good field position occurred, Salanoa strided through a weak tackle to cross under the posts for his second.

Eadie converted the Pirates’ fourth try for a 25-19 lead and West Harbour had earned their 11th bonus point of the season with 25 minutes remaining.

A chip and chase soon after the restart later from Dave Paurini sent Australian Sevens star Nick Reily on a 45m run to the corner for his eighth 2008 try, with Martin’s sideline goal extending the Pirates to a 32-19 lead.

Warringah earned field position on the back of a couple of penalties and when replacement front-rower Luke Roberts was shown the yellow card in the 61st minute for a deliberate foul in the ruck, Warringah eyed an opening.

However it was again some brilliance from West Harbour which put the match out of Warringah’s reach.

When a tricky 22 drop out from the Rats didn’t come off, the ball was spread right by the Pirates to Sinisa who performed a perfect chip and chase before collecting his hat-trick and 16th try of the season. Martin slotted the conversion for a 37-19 advantage.

Warringah were next to capitalise on some scrappy play when scrumhalf Sam Hutcherson toed through a bobbling ball, retrieved the bounce and scored under the posts to pull the margin inside two converted tries.

However just after the restart Warringah prop Salesi Ma’afu was sin binned for rucking and it was 14 on 14, however Martin’s penalty attempt went wide with ten minutes remaining.

It would be only two more minutes however before West Harbour would get their next points, Salanoa scoring his hat-trick under the posts to extend the margin to 20 points.

Warringah managed two consolation tries in the closing stages to Pingi Talaapitaga and Mitchell Greenway, however it wasn’t enough to stop West Harbour recording a 46-36 victory.

The Pirates remain in fourth position with their victory, while Warringah drop to sixth position after twelve rounds.

West Harbour 46 (John Sinisa 3, Lester Salanoa 3, Nick Reily; Ben Martin 4 cons, pen) d Warringah 36 (Ed Doyle 2, Michael Letts, Sam Hutcherson, Pingi Talaapitaga, Mitchell Greenway tries; Clint Eadie 3 cons) at Concord Oval. Half-time: Warringah 19-13. Referee: Nathan Pearce.

GORDON V EASTERN SUBURBS at Chatswood Oval

The return of Ryan Cross and Clyde Rathbone was not enough for Eastern Suburbs who were blown away by Gordon 36-12 at Chatswood Oval.

The Highlanders scored three tries to one in each half, with Sisa Waqa’s touchdown lifting his season tally to 12.

The bonus point victory keeps Gordon in second place on the Shute Shield table, while Easts are now four points adrift of the top six.
Gordon 36 (Alex Gluth, Kingsley Seale, Vinnie Byrne, Terry Preston, Sinclair Fisher-Grey, Sisa Waqa tries; Dave Harvey 3 cons) d Eastern Suburbs 12 (Ed Brenac 2 tries; Vitori Buatava con) at Chatswood Oval. Half-time: Gordon 17-5. Referee: Grant MacNeill.

NORTHERN SUBURBS V PENRITH at North Sydney Oval

Northern Suburbs have tallied the highest score of the season with a 67-10 thrashing of Penrith at North Sydney Oval.

Penrith were well in the game at half-time trailing by just seven, however the Shoremen ran in 50 unanswered points in the second forty to streak away to a memorable victory.

Norths scored ten tries to two with James Fitzgerald and Ryno Delport each collecting doubles, while Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper also crossed in his return to the Shute Shield.
Northern Suburbs 67 (James Fitzgerald 2, Ryno Delport 2, Anthony Reed, Steve Evans, Codie Medway, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Dan Watson-Wood, Andrew Smith tries; Chris Burnett 7 cons, pen) d Penrith 10 (Sia’a Taveuveu, Dave Coventry tries) at North Sydney Oval. Half-time: Northern Suburbs 17-10. Referee: James Scholtens.

PARRAMATTA V EASTWOOD at Two Blues Park

Eastwood have come from behind to record a bonus point victory over Parramatta at Two Blues Park.

The Woodies trailed 22-12 at the break, however with Brumbies scrumhalf Josh Holmes’ leading the way with a double, the visitors dominated the second half to record a 36-29 victory in the only away win of round twelve.

Parramatta collected two bonus points from the match on the back of the narrow loss and a four try effort.
Eastwood 36 (Josh Holmes 2, Damien Fitzpatrick, Jesse Leota, Barney Wood tries; Ben Batger 4 cons, pen) d Parramatta 29 (Andrew Cox, Roland Herea, Tito Mua, Ben Borg tries; Josh Weeks 3 cons, pen) at Two Blues Park. Half-time: Parramatta 22-12. Referee: George Ayoub.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V MANLY at University Oval No.1

Inspired by the return of Test stars Phil Waugh and Dean Mumm, Sydney University have maintained their position at the top of the Tooheys New Shute Shield with a 30-18 victory over Manly at University Oval.

Waugh scored one of the Students’ three tries in his first match in University colours since 2005, while Australia A squad member Jerry Yanuyanutawa also added to his impressive 2008 tally.

Manly were hardly disgraced in the three tries to two loss, however will need to string some wins together in the coming rounds to maintain hope of a finals appearance.
Sydney University 30 (Phil Waugh, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Lachlan Rosengreen tries; Dan P Kelly 3 cons, 3 pens) d Manly 18 (Adam D’Arcy, Luke Johnson tries; Adam D’Arcy 2 pens, con) at University Oval No.1. Half-time: Sydney University 17-6. Referee: Daniel Cheever.

RANDWICK V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Coogee Oval

Matt Nethery has scored a season high five tries in Randwick’s 64-17 victory over Southern Districts at Coogee Oval.

Former Wallaby Peter Jorgensen also scored a double for the Wicks, while Test hooker Adam Freier also crossed in his return to the myrtle green.

Southern Districts simply couldn’t handle the Galloping Greens, conceding 26 unanswered points in the second half after trailing by three converted tries at the break.
Randwick 64 (Matt Nethery 5, Peter Jorgensen 2, Michael Berne, Bernie Orbell, Adam Freier tries; Danny Kroll 7 cons) d Southern Districts 17 (Luke Milton, Michael Ashby tries; Michael Black con, pen, Luke Milton con) at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Randwick 38-17. Referee: Julian Pritchard.

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