OMBAC
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OMBAC Remains Perfect; Defeats Old
Blues Griffins 19-9 (Physical Road Win Clinches Playoff Berth) |
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22 April 2001 - Hayward, CA - OMBAC kept its unblemished Super League record intact today with a 19-9 victory over the Old Blues Griffins. Although the playing field at Kennedy Park was less than ideal - 8" high grass, mud pits in front of the goal posts with soccer goals protruding towards the back of each try zone, OMBAC made the best of the situation using a punishing defense to keep the Griffins out of the try zone. Heading into a stiff wind in the first half OMBAC quickly found themselves trailing 3-0 as a visitor's miscue led to a Griffins penalty kick. Near the midway point of the half, OMBAC strung together a series of movements that started near midfield. Six phases later, flanker Ryan Rebell capped it off from 10 meters out to score between the sticks. Alistair Steele's simple conversion gave OMBAC the 7-3 lead. The San Diegans applied more pressure in the Griffins half and the result was another Steele three-pointer. The first half closed as it began, with OMBAC stopping wave upon wave of powerful Islander charges. The Griffins moved the scoreboard first in the second half with another penalty kick, as a result of some early pressure. OMBAC had trouble finding the try zone themselves in the second spell but stretched the lead on the strength of three more penalty kicks. It appeared Steele had a fourth but the officials ruled the kick wide of the poles and the lead stood at 19-6. OMBAC's defense continued to shine throughout the remainder of the contest as another penalty was all the Griffins had to show for their efforts. "This was a very good win for us," said OMBAC head coach Bing Dawson. "This team is very tough at home and the home fans don't make it any easier. We knew it was going to be physical but I was happy with the way we stood them up in the tackles. We've got some banged up players and the bye couldn't come at a better time." The bye Dawson is referring to is this Saturday before OMBAC closes out the Super League regular season on Saturday, May 5 in Denver against the 1-4 Barbarians. A victory will clinch the #1 seed in the Western Conference and ensure OMBAC home field advantage through the quarter-final and semi-final rounds. If OMBAC is successful against the Barbos, they will take on the Eastern Conference's #4 seed on Saturday, May 19 at the Little Q. OMBAC's other two sides are also playoff bound. OMBAC IIs play Santa Monica this Saturday at UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium for Southern California's #1 seed in USA Rugby's Sweet Sixteen. The loser goes to Sacramento on May 12-13 while the winner heads off to Fort Worth. OMBAC IIIs play in Rockford, Illinois on that same weekend in USA Rugby's Elite Eight. OMBAC Lineup -15-Johan Claasen |