Warringah have taken a Shute Shield win for the first time since 2005 in memorable and emotional circumstances, victorious by five points over Northern Suburbs.
Final score
Warringah Rats 30
Northern Surburbs 25
It’s the culmination of a hugely successful 2017 Shute Shield season when defending premiers Northern Suburbs welcome the fearless Warringah Rats into their backyard on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Sydney.
Bledisloe what? Sack the New Zealand mauling of the Wallabies and tune in this afternoon at 3:10pm AEST to watch some competitive and highly entertaining rugby.
It’s expected between 15000 and 18000 people will turn out to watch the two form teams of the competition battle it out for 80 minutes.
For the Rats, coach Darren Coleman has steered his side on the back of extreme attacking enterprise, headlined by speedsters Harry Jones, Seb Wileman and Sailosi Tagicakibau. Josh Holmes seems to get better with age and is one of the leading try scorers in the tournament.
Couple that with the emotion the Northern beaches side will be playing with after the loss of the much-loved Lachlan Ward earlier in the season, and they are a tough side to bet against.
At the other end of the spectrum, Simon Cron’s side will be full of confidence after a commanding first half last weekend against Eastwood. Their second half was slow, but one could forgive them for having one eye on this fixture.
Where the Rats excel in the backs, the Norths back row has been immense all season. In particular, Hugh Sinclair and Will Miller will be looking to dominate the breakdown and provide clean front foot ball to young halfback Nick Duffy and the cool heads of Angus Sinclair, Richie Woolfe and find of the season Cam Clark.
Where the game will be won
Defence, defence, defence. There is no lack of point-scoring ability in either side, but whichever team turns up defensively will win this bumper clash.
If there’s one weakness in the Rats side, it’s the occasional defensive lapse from their outside backs. They’ll need to rectify that today if they’re to close out 2017 singing all the way back to Newport.
Prediction
I am super excited for this match. It’s sunny, it’s warm, it’s going to be loud, and there’s emotional baggage carried by both sides in swathes.
Rats will be too good.
Rats by 9
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:10pm AEST.
Fair Weather
Guest
That is the future of Aussie rugby union we saw today. The Australian Rugby Premiership contested by the biggest rugby union clubs in the land. Sheffield shield style competition just did not attract interest. Super rugby, you can jam it!
Johnno
Guest
Next year i hope shute GF and Jets vs Bears at Henson isn't scheduled on same weekend. There was a good crowd at Henson park but Bears would have got more away fans if schedule didn't clash...
Johnno
Guest
Great game today, a packed north sydney oval. Our mate on hear "Train without a station" will be wetting the bed as he's always critical of the shute and doesn't rate it much. He also supported the ARU cutting 250K from it, he thought it was the right call. Well TWAS I think the shute deserve there 250K back after the GF don't you mate..
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
It might get a bit loud at The Arms tonight.
Wozza
Guest
Well done rats! Great game, great crowd (this is where they've been hiding), awesome occasion. Watching this it would seem talk of rugby's demise in Oz is somewhat overstated. What a difference having a product the public can relate to makes!!! Lessons there for those at higher levels maybe!
ozinsa
Guest
It was. I had a few Uni mates with me at the ground so that was extra sweet
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Congrats to the Rats, fantastic win, party time on the Northern Beaches !!
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
It was still a big day at Rat Park. I was still hungover on the Monday after...
rebel
Guest
Congrats Rats. Well deserved.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Time to turn off the TV and just keep the good vibe going. Not much point killing the buzz with what is on offer across the ditch. Insert Smiley Face Emoticon here.
ozinsa
Guest
Up early in London to watch this on 7 stream. Texting mates at the ground. Great match, great result. I saw Cliff Palu take Uni apart at Rat Park when we won our only othe Shute shield but that was when it was the entree to Tooheys New Cup. This is for all the chocolates and extra special. Go Rats. Now go Wallabies. Don't expect a win but a performance to be proud of will make this a special rugby day
Adam
Guest
What a good game of rugby. And how about that crowd?
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
You could be right...
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
Or a few!
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Rats beat Northern Suburbs. North Sydney beat Newtown. Not a bad August afternoon. Might have a beer to celebrate.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Norths 25 – 30 Rats Scrum is good and Hamish Angus kicks it out. The Rats have won the Shute shield for 2017 and the field is flooded with green and white. What an absolute belter of a game of rugby. Truly unbelievable and totally befitting of a fantastic 2017 season for club rugby in Sydney.
Ouch
Guest
Yeewww!!!
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
80′ Norths 25 – 30 Rats Dorrian kicks deep and Norths win the lineout. They take it quickly and the RATS WIN THE PENALTY! NOT RELEASING!!!! 5 seconds to go and they opt for the scrum. Win the scrum, they win the match, the premiership and the Shute Shield!
mick jones
Guest
cmon rats bring it home
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
79′ Norths 25 – 30 Rats Norths spill the lineout and it rolls into touch. Rats lose their lineout and it's Norths on the attack 35m out! 90 seconds to go.