1982 Grand Final

Brighton’s run ends
By Tom McLean
Adelaide Advertiser

Old Collegians won the 1982 rugby union grand final by beating Brighton 9-3 yesterday at Bailey Recreation ground in front of some 3000 fans.   Collegians’ win stopped a run of successive Brighton premierships which would have equalled St George Rugby League Club's 11 successive premierships and was a victory which was totally deserved.

Brighton settled quicker than Collegians and had the first scoring chance but John Fidock missed with the game's first penalty kick at goal.  Collegians took their time to settle but played percentage football to drive Brighton back into its own half of the pitch.  Collegians opened the scoring after 30 minutes when number eight forward Bob Inskip accepted a pass from one of his flank forwards after a fine driving maul and dived in for the game’s only try.

Collegians full back Ben Perkins converted and six minutes later kicked a penalty goal to give Collegians a 9-0 half-time lead. Brighton five-eight John Fidock reduced Collegians lead to six points at 9-3 with only 10 minutes of the second half gone and set the stage for a tremendous last half hour. Collegians were brilliant in defence of their lead with tackles from Ben Perkins and Wasea Raikiwasa on Brighton danger man right-winger Richard Sara proving crucial.  An all-round team victory for Collegians in a match which showed the game of rugby union at its best and augers well for the game's future in SA.

Brighton received some consolation by winning the Division II Grand final 21-7 against Burnside with lock forwards Maurice Treacy and Andy Harris scoring tries from lineouts and half-back Simon Tedmanson And flanker Wes Battams also crossing the Burnside line, North Adelaide won both Division Three and Smith Memorial Medal for Division Four grand finals beating Burnside 7-6 in a close match in Division Three and Southern Suburbs 15-3 in Division Four to finish a great season for the Shutter Reserve based club. Collegians centre Sean Beaton won the Don Smith memorial medal for the game's most outstanding player. Woodville's Evan Du??? won the Sir Norman Jude Tackling Trophy for the second successive year and Brighton hooker Stephen Kowalick won the inaugural Ian Sabey Trophy for the most outstanding forward.