Round seven lit up the Shute Shield with tries galore, penalty drop goals, maul mayhem and a few naughty boys thrown in for good measure. From the Wildfires’ statement win to Wicks running riot, it was blow-for-blow rugby across the grounds and a weekend that proved nothing’s predictable in 2025.

Ahead of round eight, we’ve broken down what occurred last weekend.

West Harbour v Eastern Suburbs

Easts def West 55-12

The opening minutes went to the reigning champs, silky ball movement from edge to edge from 1 to 15 (got to give the forwards some credit or they feel left out), and Joel Cobb went over for their first. A poor kick from Pirates created too much pressure, and on the front foot, Easts went to their maul. Try time, Julian Heaven.

Harbour had a crack but were disorganised, their ball retention was poor in the first half and their attack too lateral. To make things worse, Chris Bell showed he was in the wrong sport, nudging the ball down the line a couple of times to regather and score. Pretty average half of footy, but a well-worked maul from the hosts caught the champs napping, Rob Irimescu finishing off the half.

‘Twas Beasties who went “we we we” all the way home in the second half, scoring 38 points. Jack Grant opened the account two minutes in. Three minutes later, David Vaihu finished off an all-too-easy midfield scrum attack.

“Babylon hath fallen,” they cried as big, bad Reon Lowery crashed over. Henry Palmer sliced through a sloppy Wests kick chase and put Jack Tougher-Wells in. Twinkle-toes Cooper Whiteside regathered a chip and chase dangerously close to the sideline and danced his way in.

Pirates showed a bit of flair and used their big boys to punch holes late in the game. Onehunga Kaufusi topped off a lethargic day for the Concord residents, but unfortunately it was Ciaran Booth who walked his way in, Easts with the last laugh.

Randwick v Souths

Randwick def Souths 49-21

Wicks started on top, beating Souths’ defence around the corner, Lawson Creighton dove over. It wasn’t long before Isi Naisarani pushed his way through a poor defensive fold that lacked aggression. Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens put Souths on the map not long before the half. A slow-motion counterattack from Lawson Creighton (seriously, where was the defence?) stepped four to put Tim Sippel under the sticks.

There was a bit of a role reversal in the half-time sheds as Souths hit back first through Declan Miller Papadakis, catching Wicks napping at ruck time. Creighton showed his class again, putting Joe Browning away to increase their lead. Souths responded with a great charge-down from Allan Ferrie to bring them to within seven. Joel Ellis took it into his own hands, Wicks extend the margin. Lineout time proved fruitful for Randwick, exposing Souths’ poor short-side D, Hamish Comonte finished.

Finally, we get our naughty boy! Lachlan Frean, have a seat son. A man down and the game all but done, Michael McDonald went inside his opposite number, burned the winger and Wicks ended just shy of 50.

Manly v Eastwood

Eastwood def Manly 26-29

Marlins out to prove a much-needed point, Wilson Dulieu with a cracking finish out wide. Eastwood struck back as Isikelo Fukofuka bashed his way over from close range. Robbie McIntosh returned serve, crashing over, which, for a number 10, is quite impressive we can all admit. Eastwood exposed Manly’s poor short-side defence down the channel, Daniel Stovold strolled in. We love a bit of tit for tat. Having seemingly shaken off the heebie-jeebies from the previous few fixtures, Manly continued the rally through Oliver Horne. Thirty-three points after 31 minutes, about time.

Eastwood rolled and rolled around the corner, Lachlan Shelley, the man can’t stop scoring and today was no different. Half-time and a deadlock at 19–19.

Manly looked dangerous at the start of the second half, but it was Eastwood who scored first, Brian Tuilagi boosted over. Eastwood were knocking on the door, but Manly’s defence was the best we’ve seen since the Norths game. Manly line-break down the left edge, knocked down by Eastwood but scooped up by McIntosh for his double. Twenty-six all with 16 to play. Ninety seconds later, Eastwood won the penalty, Cole Spinks put them in front. It was a bloody tense finish, but a Woodies scrum pen swung momentum. Marlins turned the ball over only to give away a penalty for a tip tackle at the ruck… me oh my, does it get worse?

Warringah v Gordon

Warringah def Gordon 18-8

The opening minutes were a proper tussle, but the Rats opened the scoring, Coby Miln with three from out wide, then ten minutes later, more of the same. Gordon finally struck back through Will Kaye, three from the Englishman. Gee whiz, you wouldn’t be blamed for dozing off, until suddenly, eight to play in the half, poor exit from Gordon, quick lineout, Tyson Davis down the edge, taking three men with him, try time. Things got much more exciting when the half-time bell saw lots of hugs and kisses distributed. Ref didn’t see it, let’s get on with it.

Gordon fired the first rocket, Otumaka Mausia shot into the corner, big man, big time player. Simple catch pass followed by a not-so-simple finish by Sir Lank-a-lot Ben Woollett. While it was a close score, it wasn’t the most exhilarating game; to be fair, it was mostly Gordon in the second half, but possession doesn’t always win games as the Rats showed.

Sydney Uni v Two Blues

Two Blues def Uni 39-36

Miscommunication around running the tee as Uni opened with three points, ever seen a drop kick for three? First time I’ve had to do one. Parra hit back with a great kick-off, built pressure and their maul did the rest, Fionn Clifford flopped over. Poor discipline from the Students gifted Reece Suesue three points. Uni managed to hold possession for several minutes, finally grinding down a sturdy Two Blues defence, Jack Matthews dotted down.

Blow for blow is the theme of this week’s round. Another attack shortly after the kick-off and Two Blues dazzled down the wing thanks to individual brilliance from Latrell Ah Kiong, offloading to a diving Cody Nordstrom. Suesue added another three in the closing minutes of the half. Uni chased hard off the kick-off, poor exit from Parramatta, Uni lineout and Sione Harris bashed over. Another kick-off turnover, possession and momentum, a very cheeky kick from Suesue to Nordstrom for his double.

The second half, much like the first, saw Parra strike first: Tovo Faleafa, thanks for coming. Felix Kalapu came and went, naughty boy. Uni capitalised with Ethan Dobbins hiding behind the maul to get his first. It wasn’t long before Uni struck again, Lukas Ripley put them within one. The redhead with the pen put Uni in front and with five to play we have a game. Poor discipline and quick thinking from the man in pink headgear, Rilloy Suesue, quick tap and off he went. Game, set, Two Blues.

Former Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has had a strong return to Shute Shield. (Photo by Mark Tantrum/Getty Images)

Wildfires v Northern Suburbs

Wildfires def Norths 40-20

Electric start from Hunter as they crossed after just one minute, Frankie Nowell with the finish. Norths almost fired back with a try of their own, Matt Minogue put three on the scoresheet. Philip Talaileva increased the lead for the Wildfires. Norths were hungry for more, playing with speed and running some hard lines, Seamus Smith doing what good nines do and sniped his way in. Hunter held the ball well, they looked composed and organised, Daniel Maiava finished off great phase play. Some big carries and slick offloads put Nowell in again. Late in the half, a well-worked maul from Norths and Sam Kitchen was in.

Hunter kept up their speed in the second half, showing their confidence and it wasn’t long before Brendan Palmer went in out wide. Moments later he got his second, the Wildfires’ maul was unstoppable and their speed around the corner too much to handle. Norths finally playing with a bit of gusto, nice attack down the short side put Tom Bacon in to narrow the gap ever so slightly. Both teams went back and forth, but that was all she wrote. Someone stop the Wildfires.