Cheese. Wheels of it, wedges of it, whole god damn cheeseboards handed out across Sydney on the weekend. The whistle worked overtime, the naughty boys stacked up, and somewhere underneath it all four games shifted the shape of the finals race with a month left to play.

Nine points now separates sixth from tenth. Uni are playing some serious rugby but still have to face Rats and Easts away, can the Students hold on? The Sir Roden Cutler Shield was on the line at Woollahra with Bowen watching on. Concord served up a Game of the Round upset. And Souths need help. Four rounds to go and no one is safe. Somebody get the popcorn.

Western Sydney v Eastwood
Woods def Two Blues 26-21

We all know I am a 'creative' at heart, so Eastwood's opening try really scratched that itch. A trick lineout play to separate Two Blues' defence and Xavier Degei got his first inside four minutes. 10 minutes later, incessant Woods pressure, Degei was too big, too strong and bashed over for the double. Lachie Shelley converted. Off the kick-off, a misread jump had the ball bouncing towards their try line. Brad Kooman scooped it up and Two Blues were back in it. Reece Suesue converted. These two teams always produce a beautifully brutal fixture, this day was no different. With 90 seconds left, Two Blues went to the maul. The backs almost levelled the score but a knock-on ended it. Halftime.

The second started the same way. Another Two Blues maul, the beef at work. The backs shifted the ball wide and Christian Papa didn't knock this one on. Suesue converted. Minutes later, Papa sliced through on the counter-attack, god this kid can run the ball. Two Blues bouncing defenders for fun. Finally Brad Henderson streamed through to extend their lead. Suesue converted. Woods turned to their big men and eventually got back in it. Evan Sheldon the recipient. Shelley converted. Under 10 to go, Woods knocking on Two Blues' door. Silly penalties gave repeated advantages. Immanuel Opetaia pirouetted his way over to put Woods in front. Shelley converted. Clock in the red, Two Blues had a lineout 10 out from Eastwood's line. The throw wasn't straight. Game, set, match. Fulltime.

Eastern Suburbs v Manly
Beasties def Marlins 50-24

With the Sir Roden Cutler Shield on the line, Manly went hunting. Cian Hurley went over for the Marlins inside four minutes. Will Kaye converted. Scrappy Manly defence gave Jamie Adamson the bobbling ball, he scooped it up and flopped over. Sid Harvey converted. Five minutes later, Easts had a maul on Manly's line. Unstoppable all year and Hugo Patterson continued the hot streak. Try time. Same spot 10 minutes later and the soon-to-be Mr Baldy Baldy, Nick Grigg raced in untouched. Harvey converted. Manly, eager to hit back, went to the maul. Ben Chapman got them back in the fight. Kaye converted. On the stroke of halftime, Manly had another lineout. Another maul but this time the backs, at full tilt, Charlie Poynton flew into the corner. All square. Halftime.

Unfortunately for Manly, it was all Easts in the second. Two minutes in and Patterson bagged a double. Harvey converted. Manly hit back through Western Force powerhouse, Nik Foliaki. A ripper long ball from Joe Dillon and he crossed in the corner. Two the difference with 23 to go. Easts had another lineout from five out. Yep, you guessed it, Patterson got his third. Manly's trash is the Gallery's treasure. Naughty boy Ben Kafer received the Cheddar for repeated infringements. God we love our naughty boys. Easts to the maul again and Patterson got FOUR. Take a bow son. Harvey converted. A charged down kick put Josh Boxer away. Harvey converted. Five to go and Easts made it 50. Teddy Wilson sneaked over. Fulltime.

Southern Districts v Warringah
Rats def Rebels 47-17

Well, we haven’t seen one of these since I don’t know when, but Blaise Barnes knocked over this year’s first field goal inside two minutes. Pad the stats mate, I like it. It didn’t take long for Rats to reply, the Fijian flyer, Ilaisa Droasese, calm as you like, in the corner. Seb Zaridze converted. Souths held on for most of the half but eventually Ben Marr cracked the line to increase the lead. Right before the half Rats were on the prowl again. Some sexy offloading and Tristan Leffers went in. Zaridze converted. Clock in the red, Souths were hunting for their first try. Countless opportunities throughout but they were unable to convert. Turnover, Halftime.

It took all of three minutes, but Rats were over again. Lebron Naea went through a deflated Souths defence. The body language said it all. Zaridze converted. Minutes later Hudson Creighton got his first for the campaign. Zaridze converted. Rats were putting on a clinic and Ben Fuhiniu got their sixth. Zaridze converted. God it gives me the fizz watching a prop make a line break. Sateki Latu went straight through from halfway, not an ounce of panic in sight. Offloaded to Fuhiniu and he bagged a double. Zaridze converted. Souths finally got their first with 18 to play. Big man Adam Arkley crashed over. Barnes converted. With five to go Rats had all but won. Souths capitalised on the complacency, Mason Duke dotted down. Barnes converted. Fulltime.

Hunter v Randwick
Wicks def Wildfires 43-31

What can only be described as a boggy Newcastle, Wicks made quick work of scoring first. 3:30 on the clock and Tristan Reilly strode over. Blustery and soggy conditions are forwards' heaven. CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT BABY. Surprisingly it was winger Frankie Nowell to score a pick and go try. Logan Love converted. Philip Talaileva increased Hunter's lead at maul time. Love converted. Multiple advantages put Wicks on the front foot. Xavier Houston made the most of momentum and went over. Felix Turinui converted. Right before the half, Wicks had a maul of their own. Isaac Kailea burrowed in. A high tackle from Nicholas Chan gave Love three points two minutes into the red. All square. Halftime.

Max Moore had a beautifully timed shot on Love to open the half. Big man on little man, the favour fell to the smaller of the two. A dubious penalty for a high tackle and an even harsher slice of Gouda for Moore. C'est la vie frere. Minutes later, Love sneaked over to break the deadlock. Love converted. Hunter went for the counter-attack but turned it over. The box kick was spilled by John "have a beer on the" Porch, James Hendren toed it through, the defence falling over in the mud, regathered, try. Turinui converted. Things were even again but a deliberate knockdown from Sitiveni Vahai earned him the Gruyere. Naughty, naughty. A man up, Wicks went to the maul. Flooding through went the Bobcat, Oniti Finau. Five the difference, 20 to go. Just as Hunter regained a full outfit, Talaileva was shown the Brie for a high tackle AND no arms. Offt. Chris Poidevin finished off some lovely offloading and Wicks were steaming ahead. Turinui converted. Hunter refused to go away and Nowell went straight through the ruck. Cullen Gray converted. Two to play and five the difference, Wicks were back at it. Dec Leaney sealed it, plopping over the line. Turinui converted. Fulltime.

West Harbour v Northern Suburbs
Pirates def Norths 33-28

What is going on at the moment? EVERY god damn game has points inside the opening five. Forgive me father for my profanity. Raukawa Neems, like a badger without a home, burrowed in for Pirates after four minutes. Hunter Hannaford converted. Norths almost hit back through a sexy line-break but Pirates turned it over five out from their line. They kicked to touch but an overthrow put Seamus Smith through a gap and Norths were on the board after 17 minutes. Robbie McIntosh converted. It took most of the half to get the next score but Harbour were back at it with their maul. This time Albert Alcock crossed. Hannaford converted. We are back with an adage. Off the kick-off Norths were hungry for the ball, but the cheese they got. Tom Everard put in a huge shot straight to head. That's illegal son. Naughty boy. Halftime.

60 seconds was all it took in the second half. Callum Sirker put out the stiff arm and raced home from 50 out. McIntosh converted. All square. Pirates on the pillage. Under advantage Jack Debreczeni chipped into the 22, regathered, scored. Hannaford converted. Five minutes later Norths went to the maul. Mr Baldy Baldy, James Margan, deadly off the back, went over. McIntosh converted. Back to level pegging. Harbour piled on the pressure, under advantage they were inches away. Norths defended but eventually Jack Bennett barged across. Six on the clock and ANOTHER Pirate maul, Iveni Nasio found himself at the back. He peeled off and crashed over. Debreczeni converted. Three to play and Norths went back to the maul. Chaos ensued, multiple attempts denied by Wests but Jamie Clarke eventually bundled over. McIntosh converted. Five the difference and the clock in the red, Norths kept pushing. Relentless defence and Pistol Pete Samu forced the knock-on. Fulltime. Game of the round.

Gordon v Sydney University
Uni def Stags 43-31

A massive third v fourth battle in Chatswood, it took all of two minutes for Joey Fowler to knock over three points for the Students. In game number 100, Ben Pollack got Gordon on the board and into the lead. Cole Spinks converted. Oliver Harvey put Uni back in front shortly after from a well worked maul. Fowler converted. Another display of Gordon's class in attack. Lachie Albert put in a cheeky dink, the ball bounced perfectly into Spinks' arms and into the corner he went. Ollie Schmude took it personally in the battle for number 9. A carbon copy of Albert as he put in a dink of his own and Harvey bagged a second. Uni back in front but Gordon in possession. Albert darted down the edge with no one in front. 2v1 in the back field and Milan Basson raced in to retake the lead. Two the difference and 10 to play, the Students were back on the hunt. Slick play out the back and Benjy Joseland went in. Fowler converted. With five to go, Uni were under advantage. Ball back inside and Tom Morrison went under the pointy things. Fowler converted. If you watched the game, I don't know who that fan on the telly was but gee he has a head for radio (it was me). Uni were relentless and in the dying minutes Joseland streamed through for his second. Cue the eye roll. Fowler converted. Halftime.

Uni continued to dominate opening the second. Boston Fakafanua, what a weapon this kid is, bounced one, took three more with him. Try. Fowler converted. Gordon dominated most of the half but struggled to convert. Their maul was finding good pay and eventually Siketi Tevao crossed the chalk. Spinks converted. With three to go Jordan-Lee Bacon narrowed the gap. Spinks converted. Too little, too late. Fulltime.