Sydney University entered their Country Round as red-hot favourites after demolishing Warringah 50-nil in the prior week's grand final rematch but led by Adams the Ben Batger-coached Woodies aimed up, claiming a 27-21 win to bring the students back down to earth.

Adams, a former junior All Black and Melbourne Rebel, was instrumental, scoring a try, setting up two more and kicking a penalty goal in the opening half, before dishing up what was ultimately the match-winner for Kiti Ratu in the 64^th minute as well.

With his side leading 20-14 Adams whipped a borderline arrogant, bullet flick pass behind his back which set up Ratu's second, opening up a match-winning buffer and helping his side bounce back from a 30-point defeat at Northern Suburbs' hands the week before.

"I know that guy is shooting (off the line) and it's whether I've got time to give it there or behind my back," Adams said of the utterly ridiculous piece of ball-handling.

"Luckily this time it came off because they're not always going to."

Considering the two sides have won 16 of the last 20 titles and faced off in six grand finals in that period too, so their rivalry is no secret and Saturday's clash proved as much.

There was plenty of niggle after tries were scored and no shortage of verbals being dished out either, the Woodies clearly trying to send a message to the reigning champions in any way they could.

They shot to a 15-nil lead early in the clash, with Adams scoring, setting up Ratu for his first with a clever chip over Uni's line and nailing a penalty goal too.

The students maintained their composure and hit back through Patrick O'Doherty and James Kane, the pair scoring in the space of five minutes to cut the margin to just one point, but Adams sent Michael Icely over in the dying stages of the opening half, giving Eastwood a 20-14 buffer.

Adams gifted Ratu his double with that ridiculous pass and Uni were resigned to 14 after Jack Sherratt was sin-binned following an unnessecary, late, no-arms challenge on Woodies halfback Mick Snowden.

Despite that they did score again through Hugh Summerhayes, with Kane's third successful conversion reducing the margin to less than a converted try.

They weren't able to conjure a miracle though, Eastwood holding on to pick up their third win from four starts this season.

"It was a huge effort," Adams, the obvious man-of-the-match, said.

"We had a real hot start there on the front foot. We only knew the second half was just beginning. We stayed tough and really showed we wanted that towards the end."

In the weekend's other games Randwick beat Eastern Suburbs 23-15 on Anzac Day while Warringah downed Gordon (25-13), Norths beat Manly (22-15), West Harbour hammered Western Sydney (41-15) on Saturday.

The undefeated Northern Suburbs shoot to the top of the ladder with their victory with Eastwood jumping up to second.