OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.com
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OMBAC Dominates Belmont Shore in
39-5 Victory (Improves To 7-0 With Super League Set To Kickoff) |
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10 March 2001 - San Diego, CA - The OMBAC rugby team totally outclassed long-time rival Belmont Shore today at the Little Q and won going away 39-5 to remain undefeated (7-0, 8-0) in the Southern California First Division. The loss drops Belmont Shore's league record to 4-2. It didn't take long for OMBAC to assert their dominance. Just five minutes into the match, Malakai Delai started a long OMBAC counterattack weaving his way through Shore defenders. Three rucks later Johan Claasen spotted Derek Dahlen open out wide and fed the speedy winger who dotted down in the corner. The difficult conversion was drilled by flyhalf Alistair Steele to up the score to 7-0. At the fifteen-minute mark, OMBAC skipper and #8 Conrad Hodgson picked up at the base of a five-meter scrum and powered through for the second try of the afternoon. Once again Steele added the extras to make it 14-0. OMBAC had further first half scoring chances but three penalty attempts by Steele failed. It wasn't until the 35th minute that OMBAC did further damage to the scoreboard as a scrum move from the 22-meter line was brought infield by the forwards and then center Blair Cashmore did the rest, jinking his way past would-be tacklers to give OMBAC their third try of the half. Despite being outplayed in the first half, Belmont remained in the hunt with a late unconverted try from a front peel in the lineout to close to within 19-5 at the midway point. OMBAC wanted a strong start to the second half to restore some breathing room and for the second week in a row they scored from the restart. Hodgson took the deep kickoff near his own 22 and then punished opposing defenders as he brought the ball well inside Belmont's half of the field. After more recycling by backs and forwards alike, Chris Conklin did what all props spend nights dreaming about, he finished off the movement to balloon the lead back up to 24-5. From the ensuing kick, another deep ball, fielded this time by Jay Wilson, saw OMBAC take it straight back into Belmont territory. Outside center Jason Harper beat his man wide and with the fullback coming up in defense, Harper pooched a kick over the top, gathered it himself and dotted down for OMBAC's fifth try of the afternoon. Steele's early success had long betrayed him as he missed yet another conversion but the lead was now an insurmountable 29-5. The pressure continued to mount against the visitors. Delai started things off with one of his patented kick and chase balls which took play inside Belmont's 22. From there more good recycling freed up flanker Eric Stewart who took a short pass from Steele to waltz in through a gaping hole in the Shore defense. Steele found the mark this time to up the ante to 36-5. The next ten minutes saw Belmont Shore buzzing inside OMBAC's end of the field but some strong last-gasp defense and Shore miscues kept the visitors from adding to their tally. OMBAC added one more Steele penalty to close out the impressive 39-5 victory. "This was definitely our best game of the season and maybe the best one in a few seasons," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "We were very physical and it was just the effort we wanted heading into the Super League season." This coming weekend is the start of the 2001 Super League campaign and OMBAC opens with the Gentlemen of Aspen, four-time defending National Champions and perennial Super League powers. Kickoff for the Aspen match is 3:00 p.m. at the Little Q. OMBAC will also entertain South Bay at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the gate. Southern California First Division play does not stop because of the Super League. OMBAC's second side, which suffered its first defeat in years earlier today, 13-10 to Belmont Shore, will now play the rest of OMBAC's Southern California regular season schedule, the Southern California playoffs, and should OMBAC advance, USA Rugby's playoffs. The First Division side will try to get back on the winning track with two games at Back Bay, currently 3-3 on the season. OMBAC III had better luck in the first game of the day beating Belmont's III's 24-7. See you Saturday at the Little Q! OMBAC Lineup -15-Johan Claasen |