Benjy Joseland was a man on a mission at the University Oval, helping himself to four tries (including an 85-metre intercept special) as Uni put 52 on West Harbour. Down at Pittwater, Glen Vaihu turned the 108th Battle of the Beaches into his own personal highlight reel, Manly's defence left looking like the Russian ballet. Gordon and Easts served up game of the round at Chatswood Oval, Oli Arcus finishing off the moment of the match. And just to keep you on your toes, both Hunter-Souths and Norths-Two Blues went down to the wire. Can I get an “awwwwww yeah!”

Sydney University v West Harbour
Students def Pirates 52-33

One minute in and the Students were over - Eddie Poolman, the proverbial hot knife, dissected Harbour's defence from 50. Tom Curtis converted. Four minutes later Uni were in again through Benjy Joseland off a cheeky blindside attack. Curtis converted. Harbour's Albert Alcock almost replied through individual brilliance, but a Superman dive at the end was the only thing missing. Not until late in the half did the next score come - Daddy Long Legs himself, Aidan Wearne, charged down a kick, toed through and scooped up by Will Yates. Hannaford converted. Two minutes later, Yates streamed through for his double. Hannaford converted. The Students retook the lead with four to play - a cross-field kick from Joey Fowler found Declan Moore, who fed Boston Fakafanua under the sticks. Curtis converted. Halftime.

Naughty boy alert! Alcock copped an early shower for cynical ruck hands. Scrum time for Uni and Tavita Ahokovi went over. West Harbour pressed hard, but Joseland intercepted and raced home from 85 metres. Curtis converted. Uni's discipline slipped and Matt Whelan breathed hope for Wests. Vilive Miramira, fresh from a Drua stint, raced away for the Students before the ball found Joseland for his hat-trick. Minutes later Joseland had 4 - a silky lineout move, in the corner AGAIN. Fowler converted. Naughty boy number two! Harry Press copped the gouda for repeated infringements. Wearne got another for Harbour with nine to go. Hannaford converted. Pirates scored a ripper with six to go - Jeremiah Raniga in behind. Hannaford converted. Just after the kick-off, Austin Durbidge snatched an interception and sealed the deal. Fowler converted. Fulltime.

Hunter v Southern Districts
Wildfires def Rebels 24-21

Pick and go after pick and go and eventually the dam cracked. Jonty Ravenhill opened the account for Souths early doors. Struan Hutchison converted. Much like their meet earlier in the season, the game was rife with turnovers, both teams slacking at the ruck. Eventually Hunter hit back - the maul a rollin' and the wee man Will Wootton sneaked in. Cullen Gray converted. Deadlocked at seven apiece for the rest of the half. Halftime.

Isikeli Fukofuka retook the lead for Souths, forwards getting good pay from close range. Hutchison converted. A double turnover gave Hunter the ball back and Adam Plummer went through three defenders to cross the chalk. Logan Love converted. A poor exit from deep in Souths' half was charged down and scooped up by Sitiveni Vahai for an easy five-pointer. Love converted. In one of the more bizarre tries you've seen, a pass from Blaise Barnes came off his forward runner, rebounded back to Barnes, and he slipped through two defenders to close the gap. Hutchison converted. All square with 14 to play. Enter naughty boy Tsuyoshi Jennings, sent for a deliberate knock-on, Rebels down to 14 men. With seven to go, Love had a shot from in front to seal it but missed. Two minutes later, almost the same spot, Souths gave away another penalty and this time Love didn't miss. Another one lost late for Souths. Fulltime.

Western Sydney v Northern Suburbs
Norths def Two Blues 35-32

A spilled ball let Two Blues race away early, brought down 10 metres short. A penalty gave Two Blues' Rodney Iona an easy three points. Norths hit back through a maul - Mr Baldy Baldy, James Margan the recipient. Max Burey converted. Two Blues replied through silky hands out wide, Latrell Ah Kiong in the corner. With nine left in the half, Burey sliced through, offloaded to Callum Sirker and he went in. Burey converted. Minutes later, a poor cleanout let Iona, using the wind, nail a penalty from halfway. Halftime.

Scrum porn was the theme, both packs displaying utter raunchiness, neither budging an inch. Josh Barr crashed over to increase the lead for Norths. Burey converted. Chaos ensued in Norths' own backfield as Isaac Te Tamaki chipped through, the ball bounced between two and spilled into the in-goal. Try time Te Tamaki. Iona converted. With 15 to go, Philip Baselala muscled across to retake the lead for Two Blues. Iona converted. A Norths scrum inside Two Blues' half saw Barr bash through, offload after offload, and oh captain, my captain, Luke Gersekowski went over. Burey converted. Another barnstorming break from Barr with eight to go gifted Norths the game winner - Tom Everard in the right place at the right time. Burey converted a perfect day. 30 seconds after the bell, Two Blues snared a losing bonus point through Lleyton Tautua in the corner. Iona converted. Fulltime.

Warringah v Manly
Rats def Marlins 39-25

Pittwater Rugby Park played host to the 108th Battle of the Beaches. A sexy line break from Ben Fuhiniu put Ben Marr through, pulled down just short. The forwards went to work and Luke Reimer barrelled over to open the scoring. Ben Woollett converted. Manly went on the attack, some razzle and dazzle from hooker Ben Chapman, and he danced his way under the pointy things. Will Kaye converted. Off the kick-off, Rats had a lineout. Several phases later, going edge-to-edge, Glen Vaihu got the ball in space and, well, yep, he scored. Shock. Manly maintained composure, stringing phases together well. Joe Dillon sliced through, offload, almost try time. Ball went wide and Kaye was in the corner. A frustrated Rats defence gave away a penalty and Kaye slotted three from long range. Clock three minutes in the red and Warringah were on Manly's line. Phase after phase and the overlap presented itself. Woollett went into the corner. Halftime.

Glen Vaihu. STOP IT. The man threw three consecutive dummies to three different blokes, had Manly defence looking like the Russian ballet, and raced into the corner. Rats gave away a penalty just after the kick-off and another three points to Kaye. Rats were once more knocking on Manly's door - Mr Bow Abra (cadabra) bashed over. Woollett converted. Jack Condon was sent to the naughty boy chair for a deliberate knockdown, Manly down to 14 in the final quarter. Woollett knocked over an easy three. Riley Whitfeld was the beneficiary to another dose of Vaihu magic down the edge, crossing the chalk. Woollett converted. Four on the clock, Manly crossed again, Dillon capping off a great day personally. Kaye converted. Fulltime.

Randwick v Eastwood
Wicks def Woods 47-28

It was a hot start for the Students as they looked to continue their recent streak. Young gun Boston Fakafanua raced down the edge inside the opening 10 minutes. Curtis converted. Minutes later the Northman, Curtis - with a one-handed pickup - finished off a tidy Uni attack. Curtis converted. 20 minutes in Woods hit back. Jack Parsons picked it up and put it down right under the sticks. Tane Edmed (my other compadre, IYKYK) converted. We bloody love seeing big men doing smaller men things. Eamon Doyle busted through two defenders, offloaded to Leafi Talataina, the filthiest of steps to show Isaac Crowe he isn't the only one with razzle and or dazzle and raced into the corner. Jhy Legg continued his try scoring form, closing the gap for Eastwood. Edmed converted. A Joey Fowler kick into the corner was then booted into touch by Eastwood (yeah, look, I don't know either). Uni went to the lineout. A cheeky inside pass to the tropical fruit Joe 'Mango' Manglesdorf and Uni increased the lead. Halftime.

You really couldn't write this one. Woods had a midfield scrum five out from Uni's line. Ball went to Crowe, and he returned serve on Talataina stepping back inside and under the posts. Anything you can do, I can do better… Edmed converted. With three the difference Uni were back on the prowl. Another lineout attack on Woods' tryline but this time it was the backs showing their prowess. A cross-field kick from Fowler to Benjy Joseland and Uni were in. Score for score as Woods rolled around the corner - Immanuel Opetaia closed the gap. Edmed converted. A spilled ball turned into an Eastwood counter-attack and the resident gas man Crowe went slicing through from inside his 22. Uni turned it back over and won a penalty. Curtis knocked over three. Cometh the hour, cometh the naughty boy - Jhy Legg sent for a lack of arms and Woods were down to 14. Despite the numerical disadvantage Eastwood's George Methven strode through the gap and Woods were back in front. Edmed converted. With nine on the clock the Wonder Kid Fowler hit another cross-field kick. Joseland, diving with arms stretched out, caught and scored. I hear Cricket Australia are looking for a specialist fielder… Curtis converted. Two to play and four the difference, Woods were desperate. Offload after offload and Dylan Nelson found the ball in space - inside then outside and he raced into the corner. Holy mackerel the kid can finish. Edmed converted. Fulltime. Game of the round.

Gordon v Eastern Suburbs
Easts def Stags 38-22

One minute twenty on the clock and Jamie Adamson went under the pointy things. Jack Bowen converted. A head clash between Jayden Henderson and Tom Horan saw both leave the field early. Staggies marched on. A classic Gordon try - silky hands and strength found the offload for Jack Hardy in the corner. Easts had the ball on halfway - a Bowen chip put it in behind. A brain snap from Gordon's backfield gave Teddy Wilson the ball, pulled down short but offloaded to Bowen, who was in. Chatswood Oval's in-goal area can be a blessing and a curse, as Henry Palmer showed - a kick rolled on, Palmer raced between three Gordon players and somehow dotted it down half a roll shy of dead. Gordon's scrum set piece has been the best of any team - again, Hardy bagged his double. With five left, naughty boy Tom Horan - back on and straight back off for holding a player off the ball. Tasty cheddar. Halftime.

A man up, Easts went to their rolling maul in the opening five - Adamson got his double. Bowen converted. Gordon weren't going away - a scrum five out, huge ball over the top from Lachie Albert to Oli Arcus, resident acrobat over. Cole Spinks converted. Easts' attack was too good - Wilson beat four defenders to push the lead to 12. Bowen made it 14. Wowee, Gordon take a bow. An Easts turnover gave Gordon the ball deep - Connor Hickey beat several defenders, offloaded to Albert, cross-field grubber, bounce from heaven, Arcus had two. Try of the round. With eight to go, Easts were too strong. Fulltime. Game of the round.