Adelaide University are back in the Premier Grade winners’ circle after breaking their 1037-day losing streak during an action-packed Round 16.
Axel Sonnenburg, Rafe Liebers, William Smith and Maxwell Mussared all crossed the whitewash against Woodville with a late Matt Mooney penalty after full-time pushing the final margin to 27-6, sparking emotional scenes at Waite Oval.
“Our head coach Snoop couldn’t speak after the game, we had players hugging and crying and shaking after the final whistle – it was just such a special moment,” Adelaide Uni club president Kim Evans said.
“In a rugby career, you’ll play and you’ll win big games , maybe even a few premierships, but you’ll never break a 1000-day win drought again.
“We’ve lost a lot of players over the years and I don’t blame them, but those who stayed and those who joined in those 3 years have shown such faith and belief in the club and coaching staff so that’s who and what we were celebrating on Saturday.
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"We’re under no illusion that we’ve flipped a switch and will be winning every game from here but it’s a significant moment for our players and I truly don’t have words for how proud I am – it’s very Ted Lasso if we’re honest.”
In other Premier Grade results, Brighton and Old Collegians banked bonus point wins over Port Adelaide and Onkaparinga respectively before Burnside kept their minor premiership hopes alive with a 35-24 away win over Southern Suburbs.
Earlier, the Souths’ women delivered a 11-try clinic against second-placed Burnside to wrap up their minor premiership with two rounds remaining while Woodville and Old Colls also bagged important wins.
In Reserve Grade results, Barossa, Burnside & Old Colls secured bonus point victories with the weekend’s Third Grade highlight an intra-club clash between first-placed Brighton Gold and Brighton Black (won 17-5 by Brighton Gold).
