OMBAC
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OMBAC Nips Santa Monica in 22-20
Thriller (Claims Southern California Title; Heading to Ft. Worth) |
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28 April 2001 - San Diego, CA - Many San Diegans have believed for years that OMBAC's second side could beat most team's firsts. That's exactly what happened today at UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium as OMBAC defeated Santa Monica in a heart-stopper 22-20 to claim the Southern California crown. It was never going to be easy, no one said it would be. But this team of OMBAC players, which started out the year crushing second side opponents, finished the year defeating four out of five first side teams and earned the right to be called champions. The match was exciting from the opening minute of play as the action went back and forth. OMBAC moved the scoreboard first as Kyle Aspinall slotted a penalty kick after early OMBAC pressure resulted in a Santa Monica miscue. OMBAC continued to pressure the Santa Monica defense until third phase play finally opened up a hole big enough for fullback Dickie Diack to slither through to the try zone. Aspinall's conversion was no good but he made amends not long after by drilling a 45-meter penalty to give OMBAC an 11-0 cushion after 22 minutes. If OMBAC has had a flaw in recent weeks it's been an occasional let-up and Santa Monica made them pay for their latest lull as they rattled off 17 unanswered points. A penalty kick put Monica on the board and that was quickly followed by a converted try from a lost OMBAC possession. Just before the half, a bouncing ball eluded OMBAC scrumhalf Mark Easby as he went to ground it in his own try zone while a Santa Monica player made no mistake in his attempt. After the good start, OMBAC found themselves on the short-end of a 17-11 scoreline. Santa Monica increased their lead with another three-pointer 10 minutes into the second half. After being held scoreless for 30 minutes, OMBAC finally moved the scoreboard again with Aspinall's third penalty of the afternoon to make it a six-point affair. With Tom Wagner brought in to shore up a wheeling scrum, OMBAC was finally able to get some quality ball to their backs and Beach set sail for the final twenty minutes. The cherry ball was finally converted into points at the 74th minute as Aspinall's chip to the corner of the try zone was grounded by Diack to bring OMBAC to just a point in arrears. And with less than three minutes showing on the stadium clock, OMBAC mounted another one of their last minute rallies. This charge ended with Aspinall slotting another bomb, an angled 48-meter job, to give OMBAC the lead 22-20. The game was far from over however as Santa Monica responded with an assault of their own. They stormed into the OMBAC half and got to within 30-meters of the opposing line before a hand in the ruck allowed them a chance to win it. With the championship on the line, the kick was pushed right and after a couple of more tense minutes, the whistle for full-time was blown. "What a tremendous win for the guys," said OMBAC coach Lin Walton. "It was a good match for the fans to watch and I'd like to thank those OMBAC fans who made the trip. I know they are as excited as we are. We're just looking forward to Ft. Worth now and hope we do the organization and our fans proud." OMBAC travels to Ft. Worth, Texas on May 12-13 and their Sweet Sixteen opponent in round one is the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, the Northeast's #2 seed. Rounding out Pool D are the Kansas City RFC, the West's #3 seed, and Palmer College, the Midwest #1. On that same weekend, OMBAC's third side competes in USA Rugby's Division III Elite Eight in Rockford, Illinois as Southern California's #1 seed. They face the South's #1 seed, Battleship, in the opening round. The other two teams competing in Pool B are Albany, the Northeast #2 seed, and Chico, the Pacific Coast #1 seed. OMBAC's Super League team travels to Denver this weekend with a chance to lock up a home field quarter-final match with a win over the Barbarians. OMBAC are 6-0 so far heading into the last match of the regular season but can ill afford a setback with the Gentlemen of Aspen breathing down their necks. OMBAC Lineup -15-Dickie Diack |