Onkas Premiers Go Down in a Tough Fight (11-61)
With 20 senior male players out with injury or illness, this was always going to be a hard week for the Onka men. They fought hard under lights at Brighton but ultimately went down in a game where the scoreboard did not accurately reflect the performance. Apologies for the lack of specific player callouts, the video quality for this game was quite poor, making it hard to pinpoint specific players and often focussed on the side-line, missing key plays.
After the minute of silence for ANZAC Day, Onkas kicked off heading north. Brighton threw some scrappy ball, and Onkas pinned them on the 10m before Brighton received a penalty for offside. The kick cleared to the 40m and Brighton spun the ball across field. Despite solid Onkas defence and some loose throws, Brighton retained possession and made a break up the middle of the field. Onkas regrouped and drew a penalty, kicking back to their attacking 40m. Several hit ups led to another penalty and a lineout on the attacking 22m. Onkas looked dangerous with some good hit-ups with the ball, but eventually the ball was kicked dead for a goal-line drop out.
Onkas recovered the ball and crashed up drawing another penalty for a hit after play. Dusty took the penalty kick but was unsuccessful, with the ball pulling to the left of the posts.
Brighton kicked the 22m dropout deep and Onkas pushed it wide, losing the ball on the wing. Brighton countered and drew a penalty for diving over the ruck. They kicked to just inside the 40m for a lineout. The Onka defence held strong against multiple hits, almost stealing the ball and forcing a turnover at the ruck. The ball was kicked deep, but out on the full and brought back to the defensive 22m. Brighton’s throw was not straight, and Onkas kicked the free kick deep, where Brighton recovered. They managed a few breaks before managing to drive over the line for a try. The conversion was successful.
Onkas 0 – Brighton 7
Brighton caught the kick-off and set a ruck, spinning the ball wide and drawing a scrum. From the scrum they pushed the ball into the centres, looking dangerous until Kaedan took the intercept. He chipped over the defenders and the ball bounced out just outside the 22m. Brighton cleared their line-out and hit up in the backs before spinning back to the short side and then out wide. Onkas stole the ball and crashed in the centres but were called back for an Onka’s scrum for a Brighton knock-on. Onka had some big hits from Riley and Jack before a chip kick was marked by the Brighton defence, but the ball came back to an Onka Penalty for obstruction. Dusty’s penalty kick slipped just left of the posts and play came back for a 22 dropout.
Brighton caught Onkas off-guard with a regathered dribble kick that barely left the kickers foot. Onkas made a big tackle but gave away a penalty for a late hit. Brighton took the kick and lineout and almost found some space on the 22m, before Onkas snatched a penalty and cleared. The kick was caught before crossing the line and Brighton and then Onkas both kicked back and forth before Brighton run up the centre. Onkas intercepted a loose pass, set a scrappy maul and then Riley crashed the ball up. Onkas kicked but knocked on trying to regather.
Brighton won their scrum and found some gaps on the nearside wing before being chased down on the 5m. Onkas defended well, with Isaac managing to kick a loose ball free. Brighton recovered and drew an offside penalty on the wing, kicking out on the far 5m line. They formed a maul from the line-out but were held back by Onkas. After a few phases they managed to find some space out wide to cross the line. The Conversion from almost in front was unsuccessful.
Onkas 0 – Brighton 12
Brighton recovered the kick-off but were swarmed with red and black defenders, giving up a scrum for a lost ball. From the back of the scrum, Kaedan passed to Dusty who chipped deep. Tom won the footrace and soccered the ball forward and into the path of Dusty, who scooped it up and crossed the line for a try. Dusty’s conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 5 – Brighton 12
Onkas made some good hits from the kick-off before kicking it deep into the back pocket, in front of the Onka dugout. Brighton recovered, spinning wide but knocked on under pressure. Onkas looked dangerous off the scrum with Tom Bray and Tom Davies making good breaks, and eventually Onkas drew a penalty on the 22m and took the shot. Troy’s kick was successful.
Onkas 8 – Brighton 12
The Brighton kick-off fell short of the 10m but bounced over and was recovered by a Brighton player who had overrun the kick. They spun the ball wide quickly and shook a few tackles to cross on the nearside wing. The conversion was successful.
Onkas 8 – Brighton 19
Onkas recovered their kick-off and drew a penalty for a high tackle. Dusty took the penalty from just in front of the Onka dugout, slotting the 3 points.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 19
Onkas caught the kick-off, kicking deep. Brighton recovered and spun wide and their prop crashed through, being caught right on the line. The ball was spun wide and Onkas were unable to stop the player from crossing. The conversion was successful.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 26
Brighton recovered the kick-off and put the ball out for half time.
HALF TIME: Onkas 11 – Brighton 26
The second half started with a Brighton kick that was caught by Riley who crashed it up. Onkas tried to spin the ball out but knocked on. Brighton passed the ball from the scrum, but Onkas dived on the loose ball. An attempt to kick was smothered and Brighton regathered, crashing up the middle. A Brighton scrum resulted and Brighton looked set to score on the wing before two try-saving tackles in a row by Blake resulted in an Onkas penalty.
Another kick from the lineout was smothered, but Kaeden recovered, spinning through a tackle and the ball was kicked out on the 40m. Brighton won their lineout but knocked on while attacking. Onkas played advantage and regathered but knocked on and an Onka scrum was called. The ball was kicked down field, but Brighton recovered making a break on the wing and pushing deep into attack, crashing over on the opposite side for a try and conversion.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 33
From the kick-off Brighton made a few crashes before slipped through after breaking a tackle in the middle and running into a crushing tackle from Tom Davies just inside the 22m. Onkas defended desperately on the line, pushing out an attempt at a diving try on the wing. Play was brought back for an offside penalty and Brighton mauled over the line for a converted try.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 40
Brighton made a big break up the middle from the kick off, but Onkas stole the ball after some solid defence. The ball was kicked and Brighton recovered and again went on the attack. Tom marked an attempted chip to the wing and kicked the ball back. Brighton ran a couple of phases and received a penalty. After some back and forth Brighton made a break and a chip kick through, but Onkas forced a knock on at the 5m defensive line. Onkas took the scrum and made a big break down the wing to the middle. Brighton recovered an Onka’s kick, slipping around the defence. Onkas regrouped but Brighton managed to find some space on the wing. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 47
Some quick ballwork from Brighton at the kickoff resulted in a forward pass and Onka penalty. The kick didn’t go out and was returned. Onkas ran a quick lineout and some centre crashes before a chip kick drew a Brighton knock-on. A solid scrum put Onkas on the attack, but the ball spilt loose from a tackle giving a Brighton runner room to run down the wing to score and the try was converted.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 54.
Brighton returned the kick-off with a kick of their own. Onkas mauled from the lineout then pushed wide and drew a penalty for offside. An Onkas lineout at the 22m gave away a free kick for baulking and Brighton hit up the middle. Onkas stripped the ball and got awarded a scrum for Brighton’s knock-on. The ball was spun to wing but a forward pass gave a Brighton scrum. Onkas drew a penalty and a fight took place with Brighton charging into the Onka’s player box. A yellow card was given to both sides. The game went back and forth for a bit, with Onkas making good ground before giving away a penalty. Brighton managed to run up the wing and score and convert on full time.
Onkas 11 – Brighton 61
Best Player: Louie Mills, Voucher: Blake Bruse-Hall
Onka Women Get Big Win over Brighton (68-0)
The Onka women continued their dominant performance, putting on a great show against the Brighton team.
After a minute of silence for ANZAC Day, Onkas started with the kick-off, heading south. A loose ball and some good pressure from the Onka forwards forced a knock-on and early scrum. Onkas were solid in the scrum and spun the ball quickly to the backs. A couple of good runs, followed by some forward hit ups in the middle led to Cheyenne evading the opposition for Onka’s first points. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 5 - Brighton 0
A short Brighton kick-off bounced to Vron, who took the hit and popped to Caity. A maul formed and Onkas pushed Brighton back, before the ball was sent out to Ashley who placed a perfect chip over the top. Ashley recovered her own kick, with the ball falling straight into her arms and powered down the field to the 5m line before she was finally brought down. Brighton received a penalty at the ruck and took the tap. They passed to a runner, who panicked at the oncoming defenders and kicked the ball out making very little ground. Because Brighton has taken the tap first, Onka’s got the lineout and threw quick ball to the backs where Caitlin burst over the line for a try between the posts. Ashley’s conversion was successful.
Onkas 12 – Brighton 0
A deep kick by Brighton was recovered and taken forward by Onkas but eventually Brighton received a penalty on the far wing just outside their attacking 22m. Brighton took the ball forward but hit a solid wall of Onka’s defenders and some big tackles, which drove them backward. Brighton eventually got another penalty in the same spot as the first. Despite multiple penalties, Brighton failed to cross the 22m line, continually being driven back by the Onka defence. Onkas cleared when Grace swooped on an overthrow but Onkas knocked the ball on. After the scrum, the Onka defenders swarmed a flatfooted Brighton attacking line but gave yet another penalty away for offside. Brighton’s kick did not go out and Onkas counter attacked with Ashley clearing with a kick. Onka’s stole the lineout cleanly and passed the ball out wide, before heading back in for some centre crashes. Kayla broke through for a big run and a chip kick was gathered by Brighton. Grace flattened the return runner and a dominant Onka’s counter ruck regained the ball. A few more hits, and some fancy step work by Vron got her over the line for Onka’s next points. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 17 – Brighton 0
Vron caught the kick-off and Onkas tried to push out wide to Caitlin but were called up for a forward pass. Brighton again struggled to make ground against a solid Onka defence. Despite a penalty against them for not rolling away, Onkas pushed Brighton back forcing them out on the far side 22m. Ashley kicked the ball deep with Caitlin dragging down the returning ball runner. A solid hit by Ashley was called high and Brighton drew yet another penalty on their attacking 22m. A lazy tap and run resulted in the Brighton runner being caught by Grace and Cheyenne who drove her back a couple of meters. Onkas continued to defend eventually stealing the ball but being driven over the sideline near the 22m. Brighton threw several loose passes from the lineout under pressure from the defence. Onkas drove them back to the halfway line before Grace swooped on another loose ball, picking it up and bursting through the line, scoring between the posts. Ashley’s conversion was successful.
Onkas 24 – Brighton 0
The kick-off landed just past the 10m line and bounced back to Brighton. Onka’s defence swarmed the runner, with Ashley stealing the ball. Kayla made a big run but was penalised for holding on. Brighton picked the ball without appearing to tap it and again ran into a solid wall of red and black. Isabelle was dominant at the ruck and forced a turnover to Grace, but the ref awarded a penalty to Brighton. Brighton made a big break and looked set to score before a crushing tackle by fullback Caitlin spilled the ball. Some desperate defence saw Onkas hold off the Brighton attack and draw a penalty, clearing with a big kick downfield. Onkas crashed back to midfield. A big run by Cheyenne pushed past the halfway but next play Onkas were again penalised for not releasing. Brighton tapped but made little ground before being forced out over touch. A scrappy Onkas lineout fell to Chantelle who settled the ruck and the ball was shot out to Caitlin who stepped around most of the Brighton team to score under the posts. Ashley’s conversion was successful.
HALF TIME: Onkas 31 – Brighton 0
Onkas recovered the kickoff and crashed forward drawing a penalty. The kick bounced off a Brighton receiver and went forwards. Onkas recovered and played advantage but lost the ball at a ruck so the game came back for an Onkas scrum. Some good breaks by Caitlin and Grace drew an Onka penalty, leading to a lineout just outside the 22m. Onka spun the ball wide and then crashed up on the far wing, with some good forward work putting Grace over for a try. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 36 – Brighton 0
Ashley received the kick off and passed out to the backs. A few big hits and runs led Onkas back over the halfway and yielded a penalty. Brighton stole the lineout but play was called back for a knock-on scrum. Brighton made some ground with a run out wide, but it was mostly across the field and solid defensive pressure forced a forward pass from the tackle. Onkas cleared the scrum and the backs raced the ball forward through Cheyenne and then the forwards through Kayla. Grace made a bit hit and drew a penalty. Olivia tapped and passed to Grace who crashed through the Brighton line to score. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 41 - Brighton 0
Onkas knocked on from the kickoff and Brighton then knocked on from the scrum. Onkas drew a freekick from the scrum and raced up the farside wing making it to the 22m. Brighton stole the ball but an interception from Vron led to the ball spinning wide and Shakira scoring on the wing. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 46 – Brighton 0
A wonky bounce led to Brighton putting on a big tackle from kick-off, but Onkas settled and crashed up the middle before spinning to the backs. Some solid ruckwork and big runs gave Onkas good ground and a penalty for an illegal tackle. A knock-on in the lineout led to a scrum on the 40m. Onkas drove the scrum back, putting pressure on the halfback and the ball spilled forward. Onkas regathered and made some good breaks up the middle driving deep into the 22m. Grace proved too hard to stop, torpedoing over the line under the posts. Ashley’s conversion was successful.
Onkas 53 – Brighton 0
Ashley recovered the ball from kickoff and made some ground, and Grace and Isobelle made some big hits before the ball spun out to the backs who crashed forward making a break on the wing. Quick ball work got the ball to Grace who crashed up the middle, almost breaking through five defenders. Brighton drew a penalty and tapped quickly, racing up midfield. A good tackle by Ashley and counterruck by Caity drew an Onka penalty. Grace took a quick tap and drew an offside penalty. Ashley kicked the ball out deep inside the 22m. A clean lineout spun the ball to Cheyenne who slipped through the defence and scored under the posts. Ashely’s conversion was successful.
Onkas 60 - Brighton 0
The kickoff fell to Victoria who crashed it up, making some good ground, but Brighton slipped the ball out of the ruck. A big tackle and counterruck by Grace forced a Brighton knock-on. Ashley chipped over the top and Brighton missed the ball with Onkas regathering and running up the outside. Grace finished the scoring with a crash over the line. Conversion was unsuccessful.
Onkas 65 – Brighton 0
(Note: my score does not match the official score as I believe a conversion was accidentally recorded as a try).
Best Player: Grace Fitzsimmons. Voucher: Cheyenne Chilton
Onkas Reserves Put Up a Good Fight (12-71)
Onkas Reserve Grade struggled with numbers and injuries, with many C graders and U18s filling gaps in the team sheet. Despite this, they put up a solid performance and had some moments of brilliance in a fairly unbalanced game.
Tries to Dyson Mostyn (2), and conversion to Damon Whitton.
Best Player: Dyson Mostyn. Voucher: Brodie Groenland
Onka Third Grade Go Down to Brighton (5-88)
A depleted Third Grade struggled against an in-form Brighton Gold. There were some great phases of play, but speed at the rucks and missed tackles ultimately cost the game.
Try to Ben White and conversion to Stuart Suter.
Best Player: Philomon Enalanga. Voucher: Oscar Allen