Image: Karen Watson

No one was happy when the 2021 Shute Shield season was officially cancelled midway through last year’s Covid lockdown.

But few had more to frown about than rookie Norths coach Zak Beer.

“We’d won eight straight games to start last season and were one win off equalling the club’s best ever start to a season. It felt like we were building really nicely,” Beer told Rugby News.

“We kept working and stayed positive while we waited for an official decision but when the season was eventually called off, there was a real feeling of dejection and it definitely felt like the wind was taken out of our sails.”

Beer said the Shoreman took a few weeks to lick their wounds before they turned their attention to the 2022 season where Norths will look to return to the final match of the season for the first time since back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017.