10 September 2007 By Graham Croker
Sydney University Football Club created a slice of history at Concord Oval on Sunday when their Colts secured the three premierships on offer – the first time any club has made a clean sweep of First Grade, Second Grade and Under 19 competitions.
First Grade Colts capped the historic occasion with a comfortable 41-13 win over Eastwood after Second Grade had played the second half with 14 men to come from behind to defeat West Harbour 13-10; and Under 19s had also come from behind to defeat Eastwood 25-13.
The three teams had each finished minor premiers and collectively won the Colts Club Championship.
The Colts’ efforts reinforced SUFC’s dominance of Sydney club rugby. The Students had already collected two of the four premierships in the senior ranks, with First Grade defeating Eastern Suburbs 34-11 in the Tooheys New Shute Shield, and Third Grade defeating Northern Suburbs 16-3 to take out the Henderson Shield.
And with Second and Fourth grades having made it through to the finals, Sydney University won the overall Club Championship for the second year in a row.
The club also contested two other grand finals, with Fifth Grade losing a nail-biter 7-5 to Dee Why in the Meldrum Cup, and the women’s team losing 36-12 to Parramatta.
Club President David Mortimer, who was on hand on Saturday to collect the Club Championship trophy and again on Sunday to collect the Eric Spilstead Colts Club Championship trophy, said the efforts of the players to reach the finals in all grades and win five of the seven titles was inspirational.
Mr Mortimer said the club’s depth of talent had been severely tested with four players away on World Cup duties and another 28 playing with Australian Rugby Championship teams.
He also praised the efforts of coaching directors Anthony Eddy (club) and Nick Ryan (Colts) and the elite fitness program conducted by Martin Harland.