Shute Shield 2020: results, ladder, tryscorers after round seven

A new name is on top of the competition ladder, a title contender suffered their first defeat of the Shute Shield and there were two hat tricks in the same game at the midway point of the season.

Eastwood defeated Randwick at home in round seven, the first team to take a win off them. Pic: Karen Watson.

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Six teams have broken from the pack to establish themselves as the early front runners for the finals series this year.

Eastwood might have stolen the headlines with a thrilling defeat of Randwick at Coogee but it is Gordon now sitting in top spot on the ladder as the only undefeated team in the Shute Shield competition.

Eastwood are the first team this season to take a win off Randwick.

After seven rounds Gordon boast a perfect record of six wins from their six outings, with Randwick second with six wins and one loss from their seven games.

Sydney University and Southern Districts are close on their heels with five wins and one loss each, followed by Eastwood with a 5-2 win loss record and Norths with a 5-1 record.

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Eastwood 43 Randwick 41

The game of the round lived up to expectations and went right down to the wire.

In a thriller, Eastwood beat Randwick by just two points to end the undefeated run of the Galloping Greens in the competition.

“It was an entertaining game and we came out winners so we’re pretty happy,” said Eastwood coach Ben Batger.

“They were top of the table and averaging five points a game against them so to put 43 on them is pleasing.”

Gordon now leads the Shute Shield after seven rounds following Randwick’s first loss of the season.

Southern Districts 39 Warringah 38

Another tight one in front of an enthralled crowd at Rat Park but it was the team who just a fortnight ago upset Shute Shield champions Sydney Uni who did it against last year’s grand finalists Warringah.

“It was one of those games again and we turned up,” said Souths coach Todd Louden of the close match.

“They showed belief and character.”

Christian Kagiassis scored a spectacular hat trick with Souths others tries from Nathan Lawson and Liam Moseley.

Benjamin Marr also went over three times for Warringah whose other scorers were Mungo Mason, Samuel Ward and Tyson Davis.

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Norths 40 Western Sydney 26

The Two Blues had Norths on the back foot early thanks to two quick tries before Northern Suburbs wrestled back control of the game.

Nicholas Duffy scored twice for Norths whose other scorers were James Margan, Nathan Russell, Reece Mau’u and Cameron Clark.

Penimapa Tuitupou and Airi Hunt scored early for the Two Blues with Tuitakau Kioa over twice.

The Randwick v Eastwood match was an absolute thriller.

Manly 64 Penrith 22

The biggest score of the round and a crucial game for Manly’s aspirations to make the finals of the 2020 competition.

Jed Ibbotson, James Hilterbrand and Fraser Toohey all went over twice for Manly with Michael Adams, Yool Yool and Harry Emery also scoring.”

“It was a must win and we played really well,” said coach Matt McGoldrick.

Penrith’s scorers were Dean Blore, Api Bera and Jeremiah Faamausil.

Easts 31 Newcastle 21

Easts managed to keep themselves mid ladder with a much needed win over the Wildfires.

Daniel Donato opened the tryscoring for the beasties with Lindsay Stevens, Jack Grant and Sam Fogarty also going over.

Nimi Qio, Carl Manu and Rob Buserau all scored tries for Newcastle.