OMBAC
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| OMBAC Wins Thriller Over Back Bay (80-Meter Try in Injury Time Completes Comeback) |
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17 March 2001 - Newport Beach, CA - It didn't matter who was wearing the OMBAC jersey today, the result was the same - another OMBAC victory. In the first weekend that the Super League and Southern California schedules clashed, OMBAC I's (the Southern California side) defeated Back Bay 34-33 to remain unbeaten and keep their place atop the First Division table. The outcome was in doubt until the final minute of injury time as OMBAC scored an 80-meter try to complete their comeback from a 24-10 halftime deficit. On a beautiful day at Newport's oceanside pitch, OMBAC wasted no time in grabbing the lead. Straight from the opening kickoff, OMBAC marched the ball right up the guts of the Back Bay defense and Jess Lawton finished it off near the posts. Flyhalf Kyle Aspinall's kick was good and the lead was seven. OMBAC went right back to work and it looked as if they stretched their lead with a second try but obstruction was called on the play and Back Bay were able to escape the visitor's pressure. The relief added some life to the Back Bay attack as they spent the next 20 minutes making camp inside OMBAC's ten-meter line. Good defense kept Back Bay out of the try zone but poor OMBAC decision making allowed Back Bay to keep the pressure on. Back Bay tied the score at the 25-minute mark as a series of well worked moves was finished off by a Back Bay player going through an OMBAC high tackle attempt. Five minutes later Back Bay stole the ball away from an isolated OMBAC player and punched it down close to the line where OMBAC was pinged for killing the ball. Back Bay passed on a shot at the easy three, instead going for the try and the gamble paid off as more shoddy OMBAC tackling leaked in another try. Both tries were converted and the home side led 14-7. Back Bay continued to dominate and the next five minutes produced another converted try and penalty to make it 24-7. OMBAC's lone response before the half came to a close was an Aspinall penalty. OMBAC coach Lin Walton liked what he saw early on but poor decision making and even worse tackling forced him to make four substitutions for the start of the second half. The impact of Troy Donohue, Bob Knoephel, Todd Lutinski and Jason Griffith was felt almost immediately as OMBAC got themselves right back in the match. Two minutes after the restart OMBAC drove downfield to score as scrumhalf Mark Easby sold a dummy to dot down. Aspinall added the extras to close to within 24-17. The kickers dominated the next half hour as two drop kicks and two more penalties by Aspinall were countered by two drops and a penalty by Back Bay to give Back Bay a 33-29 lead with just four minutes left to play. Sensing that the next whistle may be the last, OMBAC had to run the ball. They also had to keep it alive. One knock-on, one forward pass, one obstruction, one stoppage of any kind and the game was over. It was inside their own 22-meter line where OMBAC began their run to victory. The ball was passed from hand to hand all the way to the right wing where Bobby Linder made a wild pass back inside to keep the play going. Fullback Dickie Diack took it further ahead. The forwards arrived at the breakdown and blew out the opposition. OMBAC probed left and found the going rough. Back to the right the lanes were clogged as well. The ball came back inside and there was the gap. Flanker Guy Dotan found it, looked for support and then realized he could win the race for the line. Fifty meters later Dotan had grounded and OMBAC led 34-33. Aspinall missed his first kick of the day but it didn't matter, full-time was blown. "What a great win," said Walton. "Our forwards won it for us and our fitness really showed towards the end. Steve Sutton made his presence felt. Jess Lawton tackled like a madman. But my Man of the Match was Guy (Dotan). He had a fantastic match and what a way to end it." In the first match of the day, OMBAC II's defeated Back Bay II's 17-15 in another comeback effort. OMBAC hosts Santa Monica in Southern California play on Saturday, March 24 at the Little Q. The II's kick off the day at 1:00 p.m. while the I's take the field at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5. OMBAC Lineup -15-Dickie Diack |