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OMBAC COMES FROM BEHIND LATE TO DEFEAT P.A.C. 29-23: Sets up showdown with Aspane at the Little Q
(Washington, DC) 23 March 2003 -- On a pleasant day for rugby in our nation’s capital, the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, on the strength of three tries from pacey winger Tim Omi, had just enough to turn aside the Potomac Athletic Club 29-23 in Week Two of the Rugby Super League. Both teams were coming off opening round wins. PAC turned back Boston 22-19 while OMBAC shutout the Olympic Club 24-0 in a soggy affair at the Little Q. It was the visitors that got on the scoreboard first as OMBAC’s Alistair Steele nailed an early penalty attempt. Minutes later, PAC answered with a try by winger Josh Stallings. Fullback Dave Burt, who added a penalty 15 minutes later, tacked on the extras and PAC led 10-3 midway through the first stanza. As he’s done so often this season, Henry Schaaf brought OMBAC close with a crashing try. Steele’s conversion attempt sailed wide but the deficit was just two points at 10-8. PAC’s lead swelled back up to seven just before the half as center Greg McLaughlin scored to provide the home side with a 15-8 lead at the turn. OMBAC hopes of an away win looked bleak 10 minutes into the second half. An unconverted try by wing Danzel Van Zyl was followed up by another three-pointer by Burt and OMBAC found themselves trailing 23-8 with 30 minutes to play. Sensing the match was slipping away, OMBAC finally turned things around during a 20-minute patch where they not only dominated play but also took the lead. Former San Diego State Aztec Tim Omi was OMBAC’s brightest star. The speedy winger scored two of his tries in a 10-minute stretch to pull the blue and white to within a single point at 23-22. Then capped off his day with his third and most important touch-down with just six minutes left on the clock. Omi’s last try was also OMBAC’s fourth of the day, giving them a bonus point for the second week in a row. Steele’s important conversion made it 29-23. PAC managed to get deep penetration into the OMBAC side of pitch in the closing minutes but wave after wave of attack was repelled by desperate OMBAC defense. With PAC sniffing at the OMBAC try line, fulltime was blown and OMBAC escaped with the 29-23 road victory. The win sets up this week’s showdown with the defending Super League champions, the Gentlemen of Aspen. Aspen was also victorious in its first two Super League bouts, defeating Kansas City and the Olympic Club. The Little Q is the place to be on Saturday with the kickoff slated for 3:00 p.m. On Saturday, OMBAC’s Southern California Division I and II teams played on home soil. The Division I team lost a pair to Newport Beach – 26-5 in the first side match and 36-7 in the seconds. OMBAC’s Division II team came out second best as well, managing a solitary penalty kick in a 12-3 loss to the Oxy Olde Boys.
Source: OMBACRugby.com
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