Warringah scored a converted try in the dying stages to overcome Manly in their local derby of round eleven of the Tooheys New Shute Shield.

The Rats secured a two-point victory to win the Bayfield Cup, while Randwick also got the points in a thriller against Eastern Suburbs, getting home by three points.

Competition front-runners Sydney University and Gordon enjoyed comfortable victories at home, while Penrith and Eastwood earned victories in last night’s double header.

WARRINGAH V MANLY at Pittwater Rugby Park
The ABC TV Match of the Day in local derby round saw Warringah host Manly and it was the home crowd which was cheering loudest with the Rats getting home at the death for a 21-19 victory.

With a strong wind at their backs, Warringah couldn’t turn territory into points in the second half, until a yellow card gave them the edge to get home just before the bell.

The feeling in this match was evident from the outset, and it was Manly who had first opportunity to earn points however an Adam D’Arcy penalty went wide.

In the 11th minute Warringah drew first blood, when back to back penalties put them in tryscoring position and Scott Fardy rumbled over from short range.

Clint Eadie’s conversion took the Rats to a 7-0 break.

Manly levelled the scores in the 25th minute, with Elvis Taione crashing over for the Marlins first try. The touchdown was on the back of dominant field position, D’Arcy’s conversion levelling the scores.

Manly pushed again from the restart and a midfield break from Dylan Sigg had them straight back on the front foot. However when the Marlins pushed to the right, Australian Sevens flyer Willie Bishop intercepted a floating Paddy Pearse pass and ran 70 metres to score adjacent to the posts.

Eadie’s conversion extended the lead to seven, however the game was soon back on level terms when Josh Gamgee scored a brilliant solo try for Manly, D’Arcy’s conversion locking the game up at 14-all.

In the dying stages Brett Sheehan almost set up a cheeky try from a quick lineout with Bishop, however the final pass was ruled forward.

Released from Wallaby duty, Sheehan was revelling in his extended game time and went close to giving the Rats the lead but was held up in the final minute of the half, sending the arch rivals to the sheds locked up on the scoreboard.

Gamgee started the second stanza where he left off in the first, and when he scythed through the Warringah defence and kicked for the wing, Lupini Siale touched down out wide to give the Marlins the lead for the first time in the match.

D’Arcy missed the difficult conversion into a howling southerly wind leaving Manly up 19-14 in the 48th minute.

The match continued to fire up as the second half went on, with referee James Scholtens struggling to keep order.

As Warringah raised their composure and held onto possession for longer periods, Manly started to concede penalties however the Rats resisted the temptation to look for points.

A turning point seemingly came in the 69th minute when Marlins prop James Lakepa was sin binned for a shoulder charge.

However Manly lifted their game and continued to defend stoutly.

As time ticked down to Lakepa’s return Warringah turned over another promising raid and Manly charged downfield. However just when it looked like the Marlins might put the game out of reach another turnover put Warringah on the counterattack.

After not earning any points from their dominant field position, the try finally came from inside their own half when Ed Doyle streaked down the right flank and linked up with No.8 Andrew Rasmus who scored in the 78th minute.

Clint Eadie successful conversion kept his perfect record with the boot and with seconds remaining Warringah had retaken the lead 21-19.

Manly were desperate in the dying seconds, however when Warringah won a scrum and sent the ball onto the hill they had secured victory and the Bayfield Cup.
Warringah 21 (Scott Fardy, Willie Bishop, Andrew Rasmus tries; Clint Eadie 3 cons) d Manly 19 (Elvis Taione, Josh Gamgee, Lupini Siale tries; Adam D’Arcy 2 cons) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: 14-all. Referee: James Scholtens.

EASTERN SUBURBS V RANDWICK at Woollahra Oval

Randwick has staged a memorable second half comeback to defeat Eastern Suburbs 35-32 at Woollahra Oval.

The Beasts went to the break with a commanding 24-6 advantage and scored five tries to four, however the boot of Toby Brown – who scored 15 points – eventually proved the difference for the Galloping Greens.

While the strong breeze earned Easts an 18-point break in the first half, Randwick did even better in the second half scoring four tries to one to outpoint their opponents 29-8 in the closing forty minutes.

The bonus point victory keeps Randwick third on the competition table, while Easts earned two bonus points and remain on the fringe of the top six.
Randwick 35 (Sekope Kepu, Atonio Halangahu, Matthew Nethery, David Batiratu tries; Toby Browne 3 cons, 3 pens) d Eastern Suburbs 32 (Will Brock, Matt Toomua, John Collignon, Afusipa Taumeopeau, Lloyd Jones tries; Vitori Buatava 2 cons, pen) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Eastern Suburbs 24-6. Referee: Andrew Lees.

GORDON V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Chatswood Oval

Gordon dominated both halves on their way to a 40-20 victory over Northern Suburbs at Chatswood Oval.

The Highlanders turned a 13-point half-time lead into a 20-point victory, running in six tries to three along the way.

The maximum points result keeps Gordon in second place on the table going into the back end of the season.

Returning to the Tooheys New Shute Shield after being released from Wallaby duty, Ben Alexander was one of Norths’ tryscorers while Dave Harvey returned a 15-point haul for the victors from five conversions and a try.
Gordon 40 (Viliame Ratu, Vinnie Byrne, Dave Harvey, Billy Rainima, Sisa Waqa, Mark Preston tries; Dave Harvey 5 cons) d Northern Suburbs 20 (Ben Alexander, Dan Watson-Wood, Corey Brown tries; Chris Burnett con, pen) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Gordon 21-8. Referee: Julian Pritchard.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at University Oval No.1

Sydney University have finished the front end of their season with just one loss after defeating Southern Districts 48-7 at University Oval No.1.

In the battle of first versus last, the Students ran in eight tries to one including five in the second stanza.

Pauliasi Taumeopeau and Ed Jenkins each scored doubles for the defending champions who maintained their five-point buffer at the top of the table.
Sydney University 48 (Pauliasi Taumeopeau 2, Ed Jenkins 2, Laurie Weeks, Pat McCutcheon, Nick Haydon, Lachlan Mitchell tries; Dan P Kelly 4 cons) d Southern Districts 7 (Mark Leadbeater try; Michael Black con) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Sydney University 19-0. Referee: Damien Mitchelmore

Last night Penrith and Eastwood scored victories in the western Sydney double header at Western Weekender Stadium.

Penrith 26 (Adam Parbery, Patrick Mekuri, Sia’a Taveuveu, Solomono Fainifo tries; Brendan Craig 3 cons) d Parramatta 24 (Brian Sefanaia 2, Andrew Cox tries; Aaron Mattin 3 cons, pen) at Western Weekender Stadium. Half-time: Parramatta 17-14. Referee: Steve Hardy
Eastwood 42 (Damien Fitzpatrick, Marty Wilson, Phil Mathers, Seva Rokobaro, Tim Corcoran tries; Ben Batger 4 cons, 3 pens) d West Harbour 29 (Nick Reily 2, John Sinisa 2 tries; Ben Martin 3 cons, pen) at Western Weekender Stadium. Referee: Angus Gardner

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