Southern Districts scored their seventh Shute Shield victory in a row on Saturday to set up a mouth-watering clash with fellow heavyweights Warringah.
The Rebels ran in 12 tries to thrash winless Penrith 76-12 at Forshaw Rugby Park with winger Alex Gibbon and substitute halfback Eli Pilz scoring doubles. Rohan Saifoloi also scored a try and added eight conversions.
The win was Souths’ seventh in a row in a streak that has seen them go from battling to make the top five to hunting down a top three finish.
The Rebels have the chance to jump Warringah into third when they host the Rats in the penultimate round on Saturday. Warringah will be bruised from their 35-26 loss to bitter local rivals and competition leaders Manly on the weekend.
It is a tough final fortnight for Souths, who then face an away trip to tackle second-placed Randwick in the last game of the regular season.
Kick-off at Forshaw on Saturday is at 3pm.
