RUSA Round 1 is run and done with Old Collegians' 50-35 Bob Burgess Cup thriller over Brighton headlining a madcap start to 2025.
Juan Ignacio Conil's double and Carl Arnold's 20-point haul from the tee proved the match-winning contributions for Old Colls while early solo tries to Samuela Tanaki and David Alo-Emile left Brighton trailing 17-0 early doors.
However their 15-point win looked unlikely after a pair of Grant Murdoch penalties and quickfire tries to Selwyn Nunu and Jack Oxby saw the Tigers claw their way ahead 18-17 shortly after the half-hour mark.
Brighton struck again before oranges through Connor McCarty to stretch ahead 25-17 before another Arnold penalty kept Old Colls within striking distance heading into the sheds at 25-20.
The hosts needed a spark in the second half and found two in quick succession - first in Atino Vaihu, who wriggled over just two minutes after the break to level, and then via the dancing feet of Albert Howard who tip-toed down the right wing before slicing back inside to put his his side ahead 32-25.
Not to be outdone, Brighton hit back shortly after with Pita Nakarawa regathering a box kick and offloading for Reggie Page in full flight to dot down and drag the margin back to just two points with 30 minutes remaining.
Yet there was another twist in the tale to come with Old Colls fullback Conil setting the home crowd alight with a second half double that left the Tigers in tatters.
Two further Arnold penalties helped deny Brighton a second losing bonus point, though Joshua Dudley's late try ensured a nervy final five minutes.
In other Premier Grade fixtures, two-time reigning champions Burnside opened their defence with a 41-14 win over Woodville, Sam Rowe's hat-trick headlined South's 55-0 rout of Adelaide Uni, and Dusty Loffler's 22-point haul spearheaded Onkaparinga's 27-15 win over Barossa.
In the Women's draw, 2024 winners Woodville were pressed hard in a 22-19 win over Burnside while Souths, Onkas and Port Collegians all banked maximum points.
Burnside, Brighton and Souths also went unbeaten across Reserve and Third Grade Men's.
