Norths and Easts booked their spots in Saturday’s Shute Shield decider with hard fought wins over Randwick and Warringah respectively.

Those results mean the competition will have its fifth different premier in seven seasons, with Norths looking to add to the title they last won in 2016 and Easts looking to break a premiership drought that dates all the way back to 1969.

RANDWICK V NORTHERN SUBURBS at North Sydney Oval

Northern Suburbs get the chance to atone for what could have been in 2023, storming through to the Shute Shield grand final with an impressive 34-17 win over Randwick on Saturday.

Norths got out of the blocks well and barring a block of the game just after the halftime break when their discipline was a bit shaky, pretty much dominated the entire contest.

They ended up scoring four tries to two but it was their work without the ball that impressed many of the better judges at the game.

Norths were connected and ruthless in defence and at a number of critical stages of the first half were able to repel what Randwick were trying to do to get back into the match.

The Shoremen took first blood when Max Burey scooted over down the left edge in the third minute after a Randwick line out went awry with Jude Gibbs and skipper Harry Burey taking advantage.

Then 10 minutes later Gibbs again made a major play when he picked up a 50-22 play to put his side on the front foot and from the subsequent lineout scum half Rohan Frostwick found a gap in the Galloping Greens defence close to the line.

Randwick did get on the board shortly after but Gibbs kept his cool and the scoreboard ticking over with a couple of penalty goals.

That made the score 20-3 at the break and Randwick upped the tempo and managed to get back into the contest with a try to lock Joel Ellis after a period of consistent pressure.

All through this period though the up and in style of defence that Norths have used for most of the season continued to keep them on the front foot.

Tries to replacement scrumhalf Jack Radford and Hugh Sinclair came in the final 15 minutes of the game as things loosened up and the hot conditions took its toll.

There were some good things done by Randwick out side with Christian Yassmin hard to handle with ball in hand and Nick Chan robust in the midfield.

The running game of Randwick skipper Ben Houston though was kept in check by the aggressive nature of Norths’ defence.

There are a couple of knocks to deal with for Norths with scrum half Frostwick icing a knee after the game and Ed Timpson coming off late in the game.

EASTERN SUBURBS V WARRINGAH at North Sydney Oval

The 55-year search for a Shute Shield title remains alive for Eastern Suburbs after their dramatic 38-34 win over Warringah on Saturday.

The controversial minor premiers had to come from behind with the match winning try coming from their Wallabies and now NSW Waratahs winger Darby Lancaster with just 12 seconds left on the clock.

That try was one of three five pointers to Lancaster who had a great game making ground every time that he had the ball and defending stoically throughout.

The win gives the Beasties the chance to win six premiership next weekend with all but one of their seven teams across grade and colts involved in premierships deciders.

But I tell you what they got one hell of a fright with the Rats probably the better side for the majority of the match.

Warringah really muscled up up front with Wes Thomas and Sam Thomson showing the way while Coby Miln kept the scoreboard ticking over with a series of well taken penalty goals and a great field goal in the first half.

The scoreline was 22-17 to the Rats at the halftime break and upon resumption with the help of a yellow card to George Gibson, Warringah slipped out to a 28-17 lead.

But the Beasties would not go away and another try to Lancaster and then a critical one to Teddy Wilson drew the game level at 31-all.

Wilson, with dad David the former Test skipper, looking on from the Bob Stand at North Sydney Oval, continued to have an influence on the result.

His over the ball work from a kick got his side at the right end of the field and from there the minor premiers ground it out to present the game winning opportunity to Lancaster.

Warringah it must be said were unlucky to be on the wrong end of this result – they worked hard in defence at the death and took their opportunities when they came.

Major contributors for the Beasties also included hooker Julian Heaven, Fergus Lee-Warner and Jack Bowen who found the space for Lancaster’s heroics at the end.

Some may say that Easts will be wearing the black hat this week but they deserve the chance to have a crack at the premiership – after that, they can celebrate like it’s 1969.