ARCHIVED NEWS
2002 | 2001 | 2000
OMBAC Drop Close One To Santa Monica - Blow 18-6 Halftime Lead, fall to 2-2
(Santa Monica, CA) 1 February 2003 -- With the loss of a number of key players from last year’s Super League Final Four squad, OMBAC coaches Joe Leota and Bing Dawson knew that this season would be quite a bit different from recent years. They saw that first-hand on Saturday as for the first time in years, the Santa Monica Rugby Club was able to beat their rivals from the south, 19-18. But it took a full 80 minutes, and then some, to make it happen. OMBAC started the match without three of its key players as flyhalf and kicker, Alistair Steele, was out with a groin strain, while Conrad Hodgson and Riaan Hamilton were representing the United States Sevens Team in Brisbane, Australia. Despite their absence, it was OMBAC that got on the board quickly as winger Jason Harper finished off some excellent work by his forward pack to give the visitors an early 5-0 lead. Five minutes later, Andrew Webb, a new man in the OMBAC backline mix, took the ball up hard into two Santa Monica defenders. Webb got the ball back but his afternoon was over due to strained knee ligaments. At the 25-minute mark, OMBAC again put together an impressive display of ball retention before Harper dotted down for his second try of the afternoon. Once again, however, the conversion attempt was no good. After Santa Monica narrowed the gap to four points with two successful penalties, OMBAC flyhalf Jarrod Faul got three back with a drop goal. And just before the halftime whistle, flanker Dan Payne broke in the clear from 30 meters out to score OMBAC’s third try of the half. The missed conversion brought the halftime score to 18-6 in favor of OMBAC. Knowing they caught a break with the missed conversions, Santa Monica wasn’t going to rely on further misses to stay in the game. They went on the attack from the restart and were rewarded with another three-pointer. Five minutes later, the home side finally found the try zone. They too had trouble converting and the lead was once again to four at 18-14. With the momentum having swung Santa Monica’s way, OMBAC did all it could to prevent the lead from changing hands. The next 30 minutes saw scrappy play from both teams and numerous penalties. Yet the score remained 18-14 heading into injury time. Unfortunately for OMBAC, it was Santa Monica that mustered one final charge, powering over the line and providing the winning edge. “This was a tough game to lose but I’m sure the team learned something from it,” said longtime OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. “They got a little go forward at the start of the second half and we kind of let up on the gas just enough for them to pull it out. We knew this would be a testing season for us. We’re getting better though and will continue to get better. Don’t write us off just yet.” The second side match was no contest as OMBAC crushed Santa Monica’s seconds 65-7 behind the outstanding play of captain and flanker Eric Stewart. In Division Two action, OMBAC traveled to Riverside to take on a new look Riverside team. The new look courtesy of Malakai Delai, Nelo Lui and Taitusi Vakatale, former OMBAC players who now call Riverside home. And it was no surprise that the three of them, plus a talented group of Fijian international pool players made it a rough afternoon for the young OMBAC team. The final score was Riverside 56 – OMBAC 18. For the second consecutive week, the OMBAC forwards held their own against more experienced opposition, but in the end costly mistakes at the most inopportune times led directly to numerous Riverside counterattacks and scores. Inside center Zack Guerra, a 6’2”, 240 lb. U.S. Naval Academy graduate, made Riverside pay any time he went smashing through the midfield, and he had some outside help from the improving Tim Omi and Paul Hatherley. Veteran OMBAC player Greg Sullivan, a member of OMBAC’s first National Championship team in 1988, also played well in a new position, flyhalf. OMBAC scored two confidence-boosting tries near the end as Omi took a nice feed from Guerra to register the try. OMBAC was also awarded a penalty try as Riverside was called for repeated offsides infringements with OMBAC knocking on the door. OMBAC earned the split by winning the seconds match, shutting out Riverside 27-0. Second row Rob Britton and center Adam Brumm were the pick of the many OMBAC stars. Both OMBAC sides are on the road again this week as OMBAC’s Southern California Division One side faces another stern challenge at Newport Beach Back Bay. While OMBAC’s second side plays a little closer to home visiting the North County Gurkhas. OMBAC’s home opener is the following week, Saturday, February 15, as they host Belmont Shore in a Division One showdown. The day kicks off with OMBAC’s Division Two match-up with South Orange County. The home opener will also be Family Day at the Little Q with a jump tent, clowns and other goodies for the kids. OMBAC is also holding an OMBAC Rugby Reunion, which will feature players from 35 years of OMBAC teams. They’ll also salute their first ever National Championship team, as members of the 1988 team will be recognized at halftime of the OMBAC-Belmont match, which kicks off at 3:00 p.m.
Source: OMBACRugby.com
(top)