Onkas Win Inaugural Challenge Cup (22-17)
The Women’s rugby competition was split in two this year, with the first half of the season being open to all teams that could field 10 or more players, and the second half being the normal 15-a-side competition. This ensured that as many teams as possible could enter the first half of the season and play for the Challenge Cup.
The Grand Final of the Challenge Cup was played at the Barossa Rugby Fest on the 6th of June between Onkaparinga and Southern Suburbs.
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The game started with a Souths kick off, which was caught by Caity, who took the ball up. Onkas then hit up again, but Souths stole the ball at the ruck and knocked the ball on.
Onkas cleared the scrum with a high kick to just past halfway, which was caught cleanly by Souths fullback. She ran the ball up and was brought down just after halfway. The ball then spun out to the centre, who was caught by Grace and driven back to the halfway line. Souths tried to play the ball quickly but knocked on. Onkas played advantage with a series of hits but ultimately knocked on and play came back for an Onkas scrum at midfield.
Onkas took the ball wide with a big hit from Caitlin and then a loose ball back to the forwards, which was cleaned up. Onkas then kicked, pushing the ball to Souths 22m, where Souths recovered the ball but knocked on.
A strong Onka scrum cleared the ball to the backs. It spun out to Caitlin who wove between her two opposition before being caught just before the line. Onkas scrambled to the ruck, but Souths drew the penalty and kicked clear.
Onkas gave away a free kick for numbers in the lineout and Souths tapped and ran. Onkas defended well and drew a Souths knock on.
Another good Onkas scrum led to the ball shooting out the back and the backs cleaned up, taking the ball up. The forwards followed making several solid hit ups and Onkas drew a penalty for Souths offside. The kick went out on Onkas attacking 22m.
Onkas formed a maul from the lineout and then spun the ball to the centres and then out to the far wing, crashing against a solid defence from Souths. Onkas continued to pepper the Souths line, getting close but not quite breaking the defence. Another penalty for a Souths ruck infringement just outside the 5m gave Onkas another lineout and another maul. Despite a good drive from Onkas, Souths held the maul up and Onkas crashed several times, but the Souths defence held strong with some impressive tackling on the line. Souths gave away another offside penalty and Onkas took the lineout again, but this time the ball was knocked down and regathered. A quick flick out to the backs, and a nice pop inside, nearly put Onkas over the line but again Souths held strong. Some bouncing passes put Onkas under pressure and slowed the momentum, pushing them back to the 22m. But Onkas continued the attack with some big hits and lots of attacking phases. The Souths defence was impressive, holding Onkas out for many phases while Onkas put together some great attacking work. Souths defence eventually paid off, drawing a penalty on the 5m line and clearing with a kick to the 22m.
Caity stole the line out and put Onkas on the attack again, but a messy ruck led to a knock on by Souths. By now 15 minutes had been played with no score. Onkas had most of the possession and looked dangerous in attack, but the Souths defence was impressive, holding firm on the 5m line for over 7 minutes.
Another strong Onkas scrum led to the ball heading out the backs and then back inside for some big forward hits. Onkas continued to pressure the Souths defensive line, but Souths managed a steal at a ruck and took a series of big hits, pushing Onkas back, before clearing with a deep kick. Caitlin recovered and Onkas went forward again, drawing a penalty on the 22m, taking the lineout. Onkas set a maul, driving Souths back before a Souths counter-push stole the ball. Souths found some room on the inside, making a big break before being taken down by Caitlin just before the halfway line. Now out of their defending 22m, Souths found some momentum and counter attacked drawing a knock on from Onkas midfield.
Souths held solid in the scrum and pushed forward again, finding a gap, but being brought down on the 5m. Souths crashed against a solid Onkas defence who held them back on the 5m line, before Onkas gave away a penalty for diving over. A quick tap and drive from Souths got them over the line, but Onkas ripped the ball clear before it was grounded. Onkas took a goal-line drop out and souths returned with some big hits before finding an overlap and crossing for the first score of the game after almost 25 minutes.
Onkas 0 – Souths 7
Onkas regrouped and came back hard with a deep kick. The Souths player caught it but was taken down. Souths continued with more hits up. One of their bigger players broke through before being taken down by Danica in a solid tackle. Onkas defence continued to put pressure on Souths and this resulted in a knock on at halfway. Onkas cleared from the scrum and kicked deep, catching the Souths fullback out of position. Caity regathered an awkward bounce and made a break. She was caught just before the line in a desperate tackle but flicked the ball to Ashely who crossed on the wing just before the 29th minute. Jade P’s conversion from the wing was successful.
Onkas 7 – Souths 7
Souths kick fell short and came back for an Onka scrum on halfway. Onkas ran wide from the scrum then back into Grace who barrelled through two opposition. The ball then came out to the backs and Jade W who made a break down the wing, breaking two defenders before being dragged down and just touching the sideline with her foot. Onkas stole the lineout but gave away a penalty, which Souths kicked out on the 40m. Souths cleared the lineout and spun the ball across the field but were dragged down by Onkas. A few more hits led to a knock on from Souths in the tackle by Grace. The ball was kicked back and forth going out off an Onka player on the 40m. Souths won a messy lineout and attacked but dropped the ball. Jade W recovered and Onkas went forward through Kate and Shakira then Kayla and Jade W. Onkas then shot the ball wide and received a penalty midfield on the 22m for Souths offside. They opted to take a shot a goal, but the kick bounced off the post.
Onkas defended a few phases and then Souths kicked. Ashley recovered an awkward bounce and went forward making some good ground. A hit by Danica crashed through the Souths defence and Onkas attacked again, but the ball was stolen in a ruck and kicked to Caitlin. She recovered some ground and Onkas were on the attack again, but a stalled maul led to half time.
HALF TIME: Onkas 7 – Souths 7
The second half started with an Onkas kick, which was fumbled backward by Souths. They recovered and worked they way up to their attacking 22m with a series of hits. They made a few breaks and looked to be over the line but knocked on and play came back to an Onka scrum on the 5m. Onkas received a penalty from the scrum and kicked to the 40m. From the lineout they went to centres and Jade kicked. Souths recovered and Onkas gave away a penalty in the ruck. Souths kicked, getting a lineout on their attacking 22m. Onkas stole the lineout and threw quickly to the backs, who recovered the scrappy ball and kicked deep. Souths recovered before receiving a penalty for offside and kicking out just inside the halfway. Souths tapped the ball back from their lineout, but Onkas stole it and retained possession despite some scrappy play, receiving a penalty for Souths offside.
Onkas took a lineout on the 22m but lost the ball on an overthrow and then gave away a penalty on the halfway while defending. Souths tapped, but their receiver knocked the ball forward. An awesome kick by Ashely from the scrum scored a 50:22 on the 5m line, meaning an Onkas throw-in. The ball was lost in the lineout, but Onkas drove the Souths player back forcing a kick. The ball was recovered by Caitlin, who took a shoulder to the head resulting in a yellow card for Souths and a blue card for Caitlin.
Onkas took a kick to the 5m and set a maul. A solid drive put them on the line, but Souths drew the penalty and kicked out at around the 10m. Onkas tapped down the lineout, and the ball was passed to the wing where Cheyenne broke a tackle and popped up to Kate, who slipped between two players and dived over the line.
Onkas 12 – Souths 7
The South kick off was caught and taken forward by Onkas, but Souths received a penalty for not releasing. Souths crashed forward and Onkas defended well, drawing a penalty inside their 22m. The kick was kept in, and Souths came back up the wing getting a penalty for Offside. Souths ran the ball and some good rucking by Onkas turned the ball over, but they knocked on.
Onkas drove the scrum back, but Souths number 8 picked and ran wide passing to the winger who found space, scoring on the wing.
Onkas 12 – Souths 12
Souths dropped the kickoff and Onkas received the scrum on their attacking 22m. Another drive by Onkas led to some big hits before Ashley broke the line and drew an offside penalty and a yellow card for South’s repeated infringements. Onkas took the lineout on the 5m cleanly but an overthrow at the back gave a scrum to Souths. Onkas defended well, keeping Souths inside the 22m before Grace stole the ball. It was flicked out the backs and then to Kayla who hit it up. Ashley took the ball forward and Onkas received a penalty for offside. Caity took the tap but the ball was knocked on in the ruck. Onkas drove the scrum, stealing the ball, which went out to the backs. Finding the overlap on the wing, Leah dived in to put Onkas back in the lead with 7min left on the clock.
Onkas 17 – Souths 12
South’s kick was caught by Caity who ran well and passed to Ashley who kicked deep. Souths fumbled the ball and Caity scooped it up, running to score on the wing.
Onkas 22 – Souths 12
With 5 minutes left, Souths kicked too short and Onkas took the scum midfield. They drove Souths back and shot the ball to the wing, but it fell loose and Souths picked and ran, getting to their 22m. Onkas were penalised for not rolling away and Souths took a quick tap then spun out to their backs, receiving another penalty. They tapped again and got out to the wing where they pushed up to the 10m. Souths were pushing at the line with pick and drives and small runs, eventually making it over for a try. The kick was unsuccessful and full time was called.
FULL TIME: Onkas 22 – Souths 17
Best Player: Danica Foster. Voucher: Caity Williams
RUSA Best on Ground: Ashley John
