Queensland's Taniela Tupou showed his passion for Brothers on the weekend, flying back from New Zealand to feature for his club side, rather than celebrating the end of the Super Rugby season.
Tupou came off the bench for Brothers in a 46-31 win over Souths.
Promising flanker Angus Scott-Young had a double for UQ in a big 37-12 win over Easts, with fellow youngsters Harry Hockings and Tate McDermott starting for Uni.
Queensland's U20s captain Liam Wright teamed up with Michael Gunn in Easts' backrow for the clash.
Jake McIntyre played in the unfamiliar spot of outside centre for Sunnybank alongside Aussie 7s' Liam McNamara against GPS, with evergreen former Wallaby Radike Samo red-carded during the game.
Rising Reds rookies Angus Blyth, Harry Nucifora and Dylan Riley featured for Bond in a tight loss to Wests.
RESULTS
Bond 20 - Wests 22
Sunnybank 27 - GPS 31
UQ 37 - Easts 12
Brothers 46 - Souths 31
Norths - Bye
SHUTE SHIELD
Brumbies squad scrumhalf Dewet Roos pulled all the right strings as Southern Districts manufactured their sixth-straight win over competition leaders Manly.
USA Eagles and Marlins hooker James Hilterbrand had been sent to the sin bin in the final 10 minutes with the home side up by five points and the Rebels capitalised.
At Pittwater Rugby Park, a bright start by Warringah engineered by a Josh Holmes try and then later a special from Aussie Sevens prospect Harry Jones special saw the Rats dent Sydney Uni's finals hopes with a 35-20 win over the Students.
Waratahs squad prop Sam Needs started for the rats in their win.
Sydney Uni, who had U20s prop Harry Johnson-Holmes in their starting side and Aussie Sevens' Tom Kingston at fullback, are now nine points adrift of sixth-placed Northern Suburbs.
Norths had the services of former Rebels squad backrowers Will Miller and Hugh Sinclair, both of whom were instrumental in the win.
RESULTS
Manly 25 Southern Districts 27
Northern Suburbs 57 Gordon 22
Eastwood 45 Eastern Suburbs 31
Warringah 35 Sydney University 20
Randwick 52 Parramatta 12
Penrith 26 West Harbour 46
JOHN I DENT CUP
Brumbies squad members Faalelei Sione and recently re-signed Andy Muirhead both lined up for Royals in a huge win over the Gungahlin Eagles.
Easts fell just short of breaking a long drought, going down 12-10 to Uni-Norths.
Nic Jooste played at fullback for Wests in a nail-biting win over Tuggeranong at home on Saturday, with fellow Brumbies squad member Rob Valetini at blindside flanker.
RESULTS
Royals 70 - Gungahlin 7
Uni-Norths 12 - Easts 10
Wests 35 - Tuggeranong 31
PINDAN PREMIER GRADE
Force squad flanker Kane Koteka had a try for Wests Scarborough on a day out for his side, who clinched an 82-0 win over Perth Bayswater.
Onehunga Havili started in the second row for Palmyra in a win over Nedlands,
Associates 29 - Wanneroo 26
Cottesloe 24 - UWA 0
Nedlands 12 - Palmyra 23
DEWAR SHIELD
No Rebels lined up in club rugby on the weekend, but Melbourne had plenty to celebrate with a 127-5 win over Southern Districts.
RESULTS
Box Hill 48 - Power House 40
Endeavour Hills 34 - Moorabbin - 31
Footscray 22 - Melbourne Uni 5
Melbourne 127 - Southern Districts 5
Harlequin - Bye
