OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.com
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OMBAC
Blasts The Barbos To Claim #1 In The West (Ten-Try Outburst Solidifies Home Field Advantage To The Final) |
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12 May 2001 - Denver, CO - Needing a victory to secure home field advantage to the final, the OMBAC rugby team steam-rolled over the Denver Barbarians 62-14 at Observatory Park. OMBAC’s ten-try output was their highest total of the year, surpassing the eight Yahtzees they racked up against Old Puget Sound Beach in week four action. The final week victory over the Barbos completes OMBAC’s first undefeated Super League season as they won all seven of their Western Conference matches. OMBAC scored a combined 238 points while only allowing 66, and had 32 total points in the standings, three better than the Gentlemen of Aspen. Denver, the 1999 Super League champions finished a rebuilding season at 1-6. Despite the fact they hadn’t played a match in three weeks, it didn’t take long for OMBAC to get on the board. Just three minutes into the fray, OMBAC prop Chris Conklin drove a lineout straight through the Barbarian pack and over the line for the first put-down of the day. The lead swelled to 12-0 just three minutes later as OMBAC applied pressure from the restart and athletic flanker Ryan Rebell skirted 30 meters through the Denver defense to score at the posts. At the 15-minute mark, OMBAC found themselves with a scrum in the center of the field near the midway mark. A scrum move down the right flank saw scrumhalf Ghian Snyman pass outside to Johan Claasen to wing Dave DiSorbo who found inside support in the likes of Snyman and the #9 cruised in with another centered try. On the next kickoff OMBAC was penalized and Denver went on the attack, mixing in a good supply of recycled possession with some OMBAC penalties. The Barbos set up their options perfectly finishing off the movement with a stab at the weakside where a missed OMBAC tackle resulted in a Barbo try in the corner. The difficult conversion was executed and the difference was cut to 12 points at 19-7. Defensive lapses hurt the Barbarians throughout the match and the next three OMBAC tries, all in quick succession, were the direct result of missed Denver tackles. OMBAC captain Conrad Hodgson ran right up the guts through a horde of Barbarians but he still got off a pass outside for DiSorbo to run onto to score. Jason Harper found himself all alone as he ran through the midfield and Hodgson finished off a long range try that started inside his own team’s 22-meter line. Rebell, Snyman, Alistair Steele, Blair Cashmore, Mike Stanaway and Claasen all had a touch before the hard charging #8 finished it off. Steele converted the latter and OMBAC had a commanding 36-7 lead with just a few minutes left in the half. It was enough time however to see Denver gouge out their second try of the day. On the restart after his own try, Hodgson was harshly called for not releasing and the Barbos used the same strategy that worked for them earlier to score another try from short distance. The conversion was spot-on as the half closed with the visitors out on top 36-14. The second half began much like the first as Conklin again benefited from a successful OMBAC take in the lineout. With the drive on, the powerful prop was driven over for his brace and the lead was 27. Near the midway mark, OMBAC had another midfield scrum and this time it was reserve scrumhalf Kenny Wilson who found space in the defense to score near the poles. Denver kicked deep on the ensuing restart, OMBAC shoveled the ball wide to Delai who outpaced his opposite to the outside, put through one of his patented grubbers, got the endearing bounce, and raced to the poles. OMBAC closed out the scoring through their skipper who picked up from a scrum 22 meters out and beat the defense to the try zone. Final score: OMBAC 62 – Denver Barbarians 14. "It wasn’t a bad effort for not having played for three weeks," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "We threw the ball around pretty carelessly on a number of occasions but midway through the first half we finally got stuck in and things went fine from there. Overall I’m pleased with the effort." The victory means OMBAC will host the Chicago Lions, the Eastern Conference #4 seed, on Saturday, May 19 at the Little Q in a Super League quarterfinal match. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m. OMBAC Lineup
-15-Johan Claasen |