Group 4 secretary Ross Hamilton yesterday confirmed that Saturday’s drawn Group 4 Second Division clash between Manilla and Quirindi at Jack Woolaston Oval in Tamworth should have been decided in golden point extra time.

Unfortunately, players, club officials and the referee didn’t know.

The Group only introduced golden-point extra time this season.

Hamilton said the rule does not apply to first division lower grade matches but it does apply to the second division “Shield” games, meaning Saturday’s game should have gone to extra time after it finished 34-all.

“It should have,” Hamilton said.

“It’s a new by-law that should the game be drawn at fulltime in first grade Cup and Shield matches then it goes into golden-point.”

Until now no first grade or second divison game has finished in a draw and it caught everyone off-guard.

“This was the first one – it was the guinea pig,” Hamilton said.

It seems the “guinea pig” died.

“But they’ll know from now on,” he said.

There was confusion at fulltime with players and officials unsure of the rules.

Referee Wayne Taylor told club officials and coaches that match officials were not aware of any rule changes for the second division and that therefore there would be no extra time played on Saturday.

It’s a shame for Manilla and Quirindi who could have pocketed a vital extra competition point.

Under the Group 4 rules, which differ from the NRL, the winner after golden point time receives two points but the loser also gets a point for the draw.

Manilla needed an extra point to stay level with Werris Creek in equal second on the ladder while Quirindi needed the point to keep up with Kootingal in equal fifth and remain just a win behind fourth-placed Bendemeer.

The drawn game was a nailbiter though.

o See page 33 for a full report.