0°C | Tuesday April 29, 2025 
4 April 2025
by James Mullan
Nothing beats a local derby, and there is none stronger than the feud between Norths and Manly-Warringah. This weekend, three North Shore clubs venture south to face their Northern Beaches rivals in a series of hotly anticipated clashes.
Norths Rugby Season Opener
The Shoremen kick off their Shute Shield season at Manly Oval on Saturday at 3 PM. After several near misses, Norths are determined to clinch the premiership. They claimed the minor premiership in 2022 and reached the grand final in both 2023 and 2024, only to fall short. Last year, they were pipped by Easts by a single point. In their last encounter, the final round of the 2024 Shute Shield, Norths prevailed 31-10.
Keep an eye on prop James Margan, who will be playing his 100th Grade Game for Norths.
Grand Final Rematch for Bombers
North Shore AFL head to Weldon Park, Curl Curl, for a double-header against the Manly Warringah Wolves this weekend.
The Bombers will be eager to replicate last year’s grand final victory over the Wolves, where they triumphed 69-36. The Bombers enter the match after a strong win against Pennant Hills in their season opener, while the Wolves are yet to play after their round one matches were washed out.
In the women’s match, the Wolves will be looking to avenge their grand final loss to East Coast last season. North Shore, meanwhile, are flying high after a resounding 134-0 victory in round one.
The men’s game kicks off at 12:20 PM, followed by the women’s at 2:40 PM.
Bears and Sea Eagles Basketball Battle at the BISC
When it comes to NSW basketball there are few fiercer rivalries in NSW than Norths vs Manly-Warringah, arguably two of the most successful on court clubs in the state.
The women’s match is a rematch of the 2023 NBL1 East Grand Final, which Norths won. Both sides fell just short of the grand final in 2024. These clubs boast arguably the best women’s programs in the state and have contested the last two Youth League Grand Finals. Last week, Norths defeated Bankstown 79-52, and the Sea Eagles beat the Centre of Excellence 65-80. With both teams championship contenders, this week’s game promises to be a thriller.
In the men’s division, both teams are looking to bounce back from losses last week. The Bears went down to Bankstown 86-70, and Manly lost 85-56 to the Centre of Excellence. This is a rematch of the 2017 grand final, which Norths won. However, the Sea Eagles men have been the dominant force in recent seasons, claiming the 2020 and shared 2021 championships.
The women tip off at 3 PM, followed by the men at 5 PM at the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Warriewood.