Oneida FC historic win in first local derby
The inaugural “Battle of the Charles”, as the local derby between Oneida FC and the Boston 13s has become christened, was a historic occasion.
It was the first US Rugby League Football game between two local teams, in the first season since Oneida FC reformed in 2011 (having originally been established in 1862), and when the finally whistle sounded it was Oneida’s first victory on the Rugby League pitch.
In conditions perfect to rugby league, the Boston 13s started as favourites with Oneida seen by many as Boston’s second-tier team. And within the first two minutes, it seemed clear why. A quick return from Oneida’s powerful punt up field saw Boston 13s quick lateral passes and clever combinations enable flying winger Tyler Scullen surge over for the first Boston try. Followed five minutes later by a second try, the crowd might have feared the worst for the inexperienced Oneida team.
However, with Matt "TK" Troila-Kelliher organizing Oneida from full-back and providing powerful defence, Oneida captain Aiden Oakly began to arrange his troops into an efficacious battle formation. Center John Favara linked in well, passing the ball out wide to winger Ben Browne, who touched-down to get Oneida’s first try of the game.
Just before half-time a decisive pattern slowly started emerging; with Oneida forwards such as Dustin Ward and Bobby Jones providing a powerful platform, albeit witnessing their efforts were for naught as the proceeding link play often falling just short. The Thirteens seemed marginally less physical, but stole the half in the last minutes with a converted try through the veteran teamwork of founding members Michael Bozza & Jon Mixon, marking their dominance and a 20 - 14 lead.
However, as soon as the second half kicked off, Oneida's spirit of camaraderie gelled them together as a solid communicating unit, hitting back with a flurry of points in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Hooker Drew Shalian started to scoot and play as one with his props Migual Gaines and David Cleary, allowing for keen off-loads of the football and pushing the squad into the end-goal three times in 20 minutes. A shell-shocked Boston were down 30 point to 20, to the evident dismay of Boston 13s minutemen: Austin Chappell and Chris Risler. Risler and Bozza, playing from the half-backs, linked well with their centers and wings, but alas Mixon was deprived of his points through the stalwart defense of Oneida's sure-footed Stand-Off Geoff Bell and the cleanup crew Matt TK seemed to bring with him wherever he went.
In the fourth quarter, the bitter determination of the infamous Thirteens was not enough to secure them the W, and the bricks and mortar of their defensive line finally cracked under the barrage of Oneida's resilient offensive sets. The result had seemed in the balance, with wild predictions coming from the emcee duo in the Press Box, until iron-willed Oneida wing John Favara took advantage of the powerful running of utility forward David Cleary, which led to a final and try for Geoff Bell, to seal this historic game for Oneida, 36-26.