By Jon Geddes

A Sydney Rugby Union board member has led a chorus of voices calling for golden point extra time to be introduced into the Shute Shield when scores are all locked up after 80 minutes.

Grahame O’Donnell echoed the strong sentiment around North Sydney Oval on Saturday after Northern Suburbs and Warringah played out a 28-all draw.

And he was supported by key people involved in the clash, which left everyone underwhelmed at fulltime.

“I think you can tell from the atmosphere at the ground that people want a result,” O’Donnell told Rugby News while standing amongst the subdued players and spectators on the oval after the game.

“We are a tribal community based game and everyone gets a satisfaction out of the fact that you have had a winner.

“For me, giving the fans an extra 10 minutes to cheer and get behind their side with all the excitement of it is going to waste.”

Norths coach Zak Beer backed O’Donnell’s call.

“You have extra time in finals, I don’t see any reason why not,” Beer said.

PLAYERS ON BOARD  

NORTHS skipper Harry Burey said while his legs and lungs probably didn’t want extra time, he also liked the idea.

“As a player you’d almost rather go down losing as long as there is a winner,” he said.

“You want to see a result, it is club footy and it’s that community feel and people want to go home with a result.”    

Rats’ sharp No.10 Coby Miln also backed the move for extra time.        

“You never want to see a draw like that,” he said.

“It is a bit of a downer for both teams when you come away with a draw.

“I think if you had a little bit more time with a golden point situation that would benefit both sides.”

In the wash-up Warringah picked up three competition points after scoring four tries and Norths two points.

WARATAHS DRAMAS HIT NORTHS

THE unsung heroes for Norths on Saturday were their props Brady Dawson and Lionel Evans who both faced huge challenges – directly as a result of the NSW Waratahs frontrow crisis.

On Tuesday Beer got a call from the embattled Waratahs saying they were taking prop Michael Scott to New Zealand for the game with Moana Pasifika and, not only that, fellow frontrower George Thornton was going along as travelling reserve.

“The Waratahs’ woes have had a huge impact on us,” Beer said.

As a result, the two regular second grade frontrowers not only stepped up, but played the full game.

“You have to remember Warringah had two starting props and two fresh props on the bench,” Beer said.

“So, for our boys to go for 80 minutes against four props – and to be dominant in the scrum for the majority of the game – is a really good sign for the club.                

“You take your two starting props out of any side -against the team who are favourites to win the comp – and it’s going to big ask,” Beer said.

“But that is what makes this group special.

“This Norths team has been in and around the top of the ladder for the last few years because of the character of the group and that won’t go away.”

Skipper Burey said it was a huge effort for any prop to go for 80 minutes like that, even if they were seasoned campaigners.

“They are probably flat out having 10 first grade games between the two of them so that is a monumental effort,” he said.

“Hats off to them and I think a few boys can take a lesson from that about sticking in there and playing that full 80 minutes.”