Round 15 action was electric as teams came out firing from the first whistle. Uni and Warringah led the charge with slick attacking play and dominant forward efforts, while Wests and Randwick battled hard to stay in touch. Norths and Eastwood showcased gritty defence and quick strikes, and Hunter’s physical edge proved too strong for Souths. With some naughty moments and strong individual performances, this round set the stage for an exciting run to the finals.

Sydney Uni def Manly 45-24
First blood went to the Marlins, after a turnover and full-field kick put Simon Kennewell in. Uni were next to hit back as Jack Matthews went in under the sticks and converted his own try. The Students kept up their momentum when Declan “Bison” Moore went over from the maul. Matthews converted. Manly didn’t go away; some great hands and a slick backline set-piece put Wilson Dulieu in the corner. Ben Burnell converted.
Clem Halaholo was next to cross for Uni as their forwards were dominant up close. Matthews converted. Uni were in fine form, carrying well and manipulating the defence nicely. Leafi Talataina strolled in under the posts just before half-time. Matthews converted.
First choccies after the break went to the Marlins, with some tasty exchanges down the short side before Finn Kearns crossed. Just as Manly looked to be coming back, a loose ball put Uni on the front foot and Benjy Joseland away. Matthews converted. The Marlins didn’t die wondering; a well-organised maul saw Davea Teoteo go over. Burnell converted.
Unfortunately for Manly, Uni were too strong. A very cheeky dummy from Sam Bignold saw him go in untouched. Matthews converted. He then knocked over a final penalty to seal the game. Is this the start of a late finals push for the Students?

Warringah def West Harbour 44-16
It took all of three minutes for the Rats to hit their stride. Charlie Tupu finished off a slick counterattack. Coby Miln converted. Some individual razzle dazzle from Harry Henson put Wests back on the map. James Faiva converted. Warringah were on top and kept the scoreboard ticking over as Miln added three. Faiva levelled the score with a penalty of his own.
Next to cross was Tristan Leffers for Warringah. Just when you thought the Pirates had a chance, naughty boy Liam Lord was sent off for repeat infringements. Faiva slotted another three, right on half-time.
Warringah extended their lead when Leffers bagged his second. Faiva added another penalty, the last points of the day for the Pirates. Tupu finished off some silky catch and pass, and Warringah raced away. Jaidon Christian bashed his way over next. Wests were really struggling now.
Warringah’s big boys were on fire. Wes Thomas raced through from 30 metres out. Miln converted. Things went from bad to worse for Harbour as a knock-on turned into a try, with Jackson Rapata racing in from 60. Miln converted.

Randwick def Gordon 34-27
Will Kaye, the man with the magnificent moustache, put Gordon on the board with three points. Solomon Tuqiri went over first for Randwick. The Wicks were playing their usual expansive footy, and we love to see the forwards linking up. Xavier Houston got Randwick’s second. Matias Jensen converted.
Gordon capitalised on some soft defence, and Cassius Clinton closed the gap. Kaye converted. The Bobcat, Oniti Finau, flopped over to extend Randwick’s lead going into half-time.
Jimmy Armstrong put in a beautiful nudge ahead for Kaye to stream onto and dot down. Kaye converted. A superb pick-up from Jack Hardy off an overthrown lineout put Gordon in the lead. Kaye added two.
Randwick hit back through Ben Houston to level the score. Matt McDonald converted. With ten to go, Kaye slotted a penalty to edge Gordon in front. Right on the bell, McDonald knocked over another three to secure the win.

Easts def Two Blues 54-40
Six minutes in and seven points up, Easts were on. Josh Bokser crossed and Cooper Whiteside converted. A penalty try and a naughty boy moment followed in the same sequence. Jerome Williams was sent to the bin and Easts went further in front.
Western Sydney used sheer power for their first, with Sitiveni Moceidreke getting on the board. Reece Suesue converted. Robb “Corn on the” Cobb went in next. Whiteside converted. Easts rolled out some slick set-piece play, one move taking them 60 metres as Whiteside raced in. He converted his own try.
Just before the half, naughty boy Whiteside was sent off for repeat infringements and the Two Blues scored in the corner, a great finish from Josh Hickey. Suesue converted.
Easts continued their momentum after the break. Jack Grant put Darby Lancaster down the edge and with a bit of razzle dazzle, Lancaster went over. Rilloy Suesue was very quick on his feet, catching Easts napping as he snuck in from close range. Suesue converted.
Moli Sooaemalelagi flopped over from the maul next. Whiteside converted. Otto Serfontein followed him over, and Whiteside converted again.
The Two Blues began their chase. Suesue threw a tasty long ball to Christian Papa who raced in. Meli Sifa, the human Pitbull, barged over for his first, then followed it up with a second. Suesue converted both.
Right from the kick-off, Easts replied. A loose ball fell into Lancaster’s hands and he was off to the races. Whiteside converted.

Norths def Eastwood 45-35
Another fast start as Norths’ Reece Mau’u opened the scoring off a juicy set piece. Matt Minogue converted. Lachlan Shelley replied for Eastwood with a great line to cut through Norths. Cole Spinks converted.
The try scoring continued as Norths exploited some lazy Woodies defence and Callum Sirker raced in. Minogue added two. Norths carried the momentum and Minogue added three more to their tally. Eastwood’s forwards went to work, and great composure saw Jackson Clarke dive over. Spinks converted.
Wonder kid Henry O’Donnell put in a grubber, won the foot race, and scored it himself. Minogue converted. Mr Baldy Jimmy Margan added his ten cents worth and dotted down. Minogue converted. Half time.
The Woodies hit back first in the second half. Jayden Henderson grabbed his first of the day. Spinks converted. Some silky play from Tom Bacon put Mau’u in for his second. Minogue converted.
Norths’ naughty boy Doug Philipson was sent off for getting handsy, and Henderson bagged his second. Spinks converted. Sirker got his second next. Full credit to the forwards for that one. Minogue added two.
Norths had their second naughty boy sent off. Something in the reserves water, I reckon. Will Riley was marched for a shoulder to the head, then Tua Hokafonu crashed over. Spinks added two. The Woodies gave it a red hot crack but to no avail.

Wildfires def Souths 54-26
Frankie Nowell got things underway, ducking and diving over. Logan Love converted. Souths’ naughty boy Sam Miller was sent off for repeat infringements and it was not long before Tomas Aoake slid in, in the corner.
The Wildfires had the wind at their backs and Josh Noonan was sent off for tripping. Naughty boy. It was not long before Hunter were in again, with Bruce Kauika Peterson getting his first. Love converted.
Things got worse for Souths. Sitiveni Vahai went over and Hunter were scoring at a point a minute. Hunter’s big man Matthew Meafua was sent off for rough rough and tumble, and joining him was Antoine Garcia Barrau. Naughty boys. Souths were finally on the board through Mitieli Tuinakauvadra.
Vahai got a double off the back of some lovely attack. Love converted. Half time.
Kauika Peterson got his second to open the second half. Hunter lost another man to the bin, the bearded dragon Donny Freeman, for repeated infringements. Noonan went quickly and dived over. Struan Hutchison converted.
A very fortunate bounce of the ball and Souths were in again. Blaise Barnes raced home. Hutchison converted. Tevita Kaituu got one back for the Wildfires at maul time. Ethan Morgan converted.
Theme of the day for Barnes, another bouncing ball and he was in again. Hutchison converted. Ethan Morgan got the final try of the day. Love converted.