Day 3 of the 2025 Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield is run and done with 2024 winners Queensland Country Heelers and ACT & SNSW Kestrels locking in their final berths
The Women's Shield final has been determined with 2024 winners ACT & SNSW set to tackle newcomers Sydney Women at 1:30pm AEDT on Sunday October 5.
DAY 2 RECAP: Heelers, Kestrels on track for Shield defence, local NSW sides shine
Meanwhile, Queensland Country Heelers locked in back-to-back Shield final berths despite falling to NSW Suburban 27-24 and will face NSW Country Cockatoos in a 2024 rematch that doubles as the traditional Battle of the Border.
The 2025 Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield is delivered in partnership with naming rights sponsor Buildcorp Group and the City of Newcastle - check out visitnewcastle.com.au for more.
See below for Day 3 replays and rolling coverage from Hunter Rugby Union - you can also purchase tickets here with all proceeds going back into supporting grassroots rugby.
09:30 - ADRU Men 24 def South Australia Black Falcons Men 12
A last-gasp intercept try saw ADRU take the full five points and break South Australian hearts in Saturday's opening clash of the men's Shield.
The Black Falcons trailed 17-12 in the 69th minute and were hot on the attack deep in ADRU territory before Jack Scanlon produced the match-winning play, running 70m upfield and toeing ahead for his wing partner to touch down.
The results consigns South Australia to fourth place in Pool Pool B and a seventh-place final clash with Queensland Suburban Men on Sunday - ADRU will tackle Tasmania for fifth.
11:15 - Queensland Suburban Men 33 def by Tasmania Jack Jumpers 50
Tasmania have produced their biggest ever Australian Rugby Shield victory, running in seven tries to defeat Queensland Suburban by 17 points.
Centre Peni Vea and winger TJ Pieters scored doubles but it wasn't always smooth sailing as Subbies pulled back a 29-14 half time deficit to lead 33-29 in the 50th minute.
Kyle Lombard's 54th minute hit-back put Tassie back in front and from there the Jackies were never headed with Vea bagging his second before Enzo Balducci put the result beyond doubt.
13:00 - Queensland Country Heelers 24 def by NSW Suburban Men 27
NSW Subbies have produced an all-time win in Pool A to stun reigning Shield holders Queensland Country 27-24.
Each side scored four tries, two conversions and two penalty goals with Lachlan Camroux's early penalty goal proving the difference.
Queensland Country had the chance to tie late but the penalty goal attempt sailed wide, sending the NSW Subbies faithful in raptures and their side into a bronze final at 1:30pm AEDT.
The Heelers' two bonus points will be enough, however, to see them into Sunday's Shield decider at 3:30pm AEDT.
14:25 - NSW Country Cockatoos 15 v Wildfires Development Men 7
NSW Country earned their shot at redemption after downing the local Wildfires Development side by eight points in their Pool B decider.
In a match littered with Hunter Rugby talent, the Cockatoos did enough to edge their intra-state rivals with Matthew Martin and Jack Radford scoring important tries.
It sets the scene for a spicy all-Country men's Shield final on Sunday while the Wildfires will push for third place in another intra-state derby against NSW Suburban.
09:30 - Queensland Suburban Kelpies 17 def by Queensland Country Orchids 29
2024 runners up Queensland Country secure their place in the women's bronze final Shield after defeating state rivals Queensland Suburban by 12 points.
Doubles to Meg Jakins and Layla Fujii helped secure the bonus point win and lift the Orchids to second place - they'll face South Australia at 11:45am AEDT on Sunday for third place.
11:15 - ACT & SNSW Kestrels 43 def South Australia Black Falcons Women 5
Women's Shield holders ACT & SNSW will enter tomorrow's final in red-hot form after posting their third straight win of the tournament.
The Kestrels proved too strong for South Australia, running out 38-point victor with winger Sophie Bowley scoring two of her side's seven tries.
13:00 - Sydney Women 14 v NSW Country Corellas 5
Newcomers Sydney will tackle ACT & SNSW Kestrels for the women's Shield tomorrow after seeing off a spirited NSW Country Corellas 14-5.
Wingers April Allende and Chelsea-Lina Koomson dotted down for the Kestrels after Corella flyer Nikki Berryman scored the opener.
It leave NSW Country 0-3 after the ranking stage - they'll now face Queensland Suburban Kelpies in the fifth-place final on Sunday at 10am AEDT.
