It was a busy weekend of sport across the state, with top cyclists hitting the gravel on the Copper Coast and finals fever building across many codes.
Metro United WFC came from a goal down to beat minor premiers, Adelaide City, 2-1 and secure their fourth title. City took the lead in the 28th minute with a goal by Daniela Di Bartolo, yet were unable to stop Metro scoring two goals in seven minutes in a second half comeback.
The result ended City’s dominant season which saw them lose only one game, and their WNPL reserves lost 3-0 to Adelaide University earlier on the Grand Final night.
Adelaide Comets’ Allan Welsh bagged a hat-trick and helped his side remain top of the NPL ladder, beating Modbury Jets 4-1.
Croydon Kings still sit one point from top spot after beating the bottom side, Para Hills, 3-0.
Adelaide City avenged last week’s heartbreaking performance, beating sixth placed Cumberland United 4-2. The result places City one point behind sixth-placed Cumberland with three games left to play. The top six make the finals.
South Adelaide Panthers were unable to extend the lead at the top of the table after drawing 4-4 to second-bottom team Adelaide Vipers. South Adelaide sit top by one point, after second-placed Sturt Lions drew 0-0 with fourth-placed White City.
Sophie Edwards (Cycling Australia) has taken out the win in the Elite Women road race for the Super Series Round 3 held in Wallaroo, completing the 76-kilometre event in 2h01:21. While Justin Gassner (Tonsley Village) won the Elite Men, completing the course, which included sections of dirt road, in a time of 1h44:07.
On the second day of racing, the Round 4 Moonta Criterium winners were Leigh Howard from ACT Mens Track Endurance in a time of 57.12 and Natalie Redmond, riding independently, in 52.15.
Super Series GC leaders for Elites after the weekend are Nicola Macdonald (Roxsolt-Attaquer) and Leigh Howard (ACT Mens Track Endurance).
To mark the start of beach season, athletes competed in the Kozii Enduro at West Lakes. Competing across long-distance board, ski and swim events, the combined results of the three disciplines determined the winners. The Open Men’s Enduro Gold was won by Tom May of Seacliff, followed by Lachlan Merchant of Glenelg, and Matthew Zuill of West Beach. In the Open Women’s, Leah Jones from West Beach beat Grange’s Kayla Roe for the Enduro honours.
Woodville-West Torrens Eagles will be the team to meet North Adelaide in this week’s Grand Final after beating the South Adelaide Panthers 16.15 (111) to 10.8 (68). Up to 25,000 spectators can attend the match at Adelaide Oval this Sunday.
Seven SANFL players are set to join AFLW teams. Teah Charlton, Rachelle Martin and Ashleigh Woodland will all be joining the Adelaide Crows.
Indy Tahau will be joining the Brisbane Lions, with Bella Smith joining Collingwood. North Adelaide pair Lauren Gauci and Amber Ward will both be joining the West Coast Eagles.
The Wallabies showed a new vigour to tie the All Blacks 16-16 in the first match of the Bledisloe Cup in NZ. The final 10 minutes will go down in rugby lore.
Brighton Premier Grade secured their place in the Coopers Premier 1 Grand final after beating Old Collegians 36-25.
Brighton will play the winner of the Old Collegians vs Burnside game this Saturday at 4pm at Brighton Oval.
The Forestville Eagles remain top in the Adelaide Basketball Championships after beating the Eastern Mavericks 102-78. Forestville’s Gregory Mays scored a game high 27 points.
Nikolas Desantis scored 29-points for the West Adelaide Bearcats but his side lost to the Southern Tigers 95-86, who sit second in the league, having played one game more than first placed Forestville Eagles and third placed Sturt Sabres.
Jed Anderson-Habel finished quickest in the Devil’s Nose trail running competition at Para Wirra, completing the 25-kilometre event in 1hr: 55:52, which was 47 seconds ahead of second placed James Kay.
The Redbacks’ comeback against Western Australia’s strong first innings is going to plan, as they finish day two with 178/1, trailing WA by 303 runs. Redbacks’ Jake Weatherald bagged 104 runs from 157 balls, not out. The Redbacks will be expecting more from their batsmen in the hope to turn the tide after digging themselves into a big hole in day one.