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OMBAC RUNS IN 12 TRIES IN ROUT OF SANTA MONICA: Avenge earlier loss to the Dolphins, Olympic Club next up
(San Diego, CA) 8 March 2003 -- The Santa Monica Rugby Club (5-4) defeated OMBAC by one point earlier this season, its first win over their Southern California rival in over 15 years. On Saturday, OMBAC (5-4) made it clear that that kind of thing wasn’t going to happen twice in one season. Putting on another dazzling offensive display, OMBAC scored 12 tries enroute to a one-sided 82-10 thrashing of Santa Monica. It was a beautiful day for rugby at the Little Q with temperatures in the low seventies and nothing but sunshine graced the appreciative crowd. The OMBAC backrow of Dan Payne, Conrad Hodgson and Henry Schaaf got things rolling early for the home side. An overthrown Santa Monica throw-in five meters from their line was snatched by Payne, who popped it up to Hodgson. His short pass found the hard running Schaaf who went through two defenders to dot down for the game’s first try. Ali Steele’s day didn’t start well with the boot as he missed the conversion but it got much better as the day wore on. Seven minutes later Schaaf busted through again for the try. Wing Dave DiSorbo made the initial break into Santa Monica territory. When the defense finally pinned him in, the reliable Hodgson was there to retain possession. Rucked ball went wide and quick hands by hooker Matt Wyatt set up Schaaf for the drive ahead. Soon after Schaaf’s second of the day, Mark Easbey scored on the tail end of multi-phase possession. Steele’s two successful conversions made it 19-0 midway through the first half. Santa Monica flyhalf Sam Gonzalez, who spent some time in the OMBAC organization a few years back, scored Santa Monica’s first try of the match. Or did he? Gonzalez made a couple of great moves in getting to the try zone but appeared to have lost control of the ball when tackled. Referee Dave Peters saw it otherwise and Santa Monica was back in the game. OMBAC had other ideas, however, and were camped out near the Santa Monica line for the remainder of the half. After several knock-ons spoiled OMBAC opportunities, the home side managed to get one more try on the half’s final play as Hodgson rumbled over. Steele’s extras made it 26-5 as the teams changed ends. Going into the breeze in the second half, it took OMBAC just two minutes to find the try zone. After some penetrating runs by Siaa Taveuveu and Rocky Matatumua brought the ball deep into the Dolphins end, Wyatt found the crack in the Santa Monica defense to add to the lead. Taveuveu, who was dynamic in attack all day long, made it 40-5 with a scintillating run that turned the defense every which way. Following Taveuveu’s try, a misjudged restart allowed Santa Monica to penetrate well into OMBAC territory. OMBAC was then called for a penalty and Robert Knox rammed through the blue and white defense for the visitors second and last try of the day. The last six tries of the day were scored by OMBAC as Payne ran in two, Taveuveu racked up his second, and there was one apiece by second row Ben Oakes, pacey winger Tim Omi, and Matatumua closed out the day with a 60-meter run through and past the Santa Monica defenders. Steele finished the day with 9 from 10 in the conversions made department while Matatumua and DiSorbo slotted a conversion each. As usual, OMBAC coach Bing Dawson saw room for improvement. “We could have finished off a few more of our chances and we have to do a better job in controlling the restarts. We let too many of those hit the floor and that’s good possession lost. We also took some breaks at the scrum and they just drove us off the ball. Scrum time is no time to be taking a breather. On the positive, we supported well and were aggressive in defense. Next week should give us a pretty good gauge of where we’re at.” OMBAC’s big win capped off a long day of rugby at the Little Q. In the day’s first match, the North County Gurkhas whipped OMBAC’s Division II first XV 35-5. OMBAC’s Division II second XV let a 15-3 lead late in the game slip away from them but managed to hang on for a 15-15 tie. OMBAC’s Division I second XV posted a second straight shutout as they got the better of Santa Monica’s second XV 36-0. OMBAC hosts San Francisco’s Olympic Club on Saturday, March 15 in the season opener of the U.S.A. Rugby Super League. The match kicks off at 3:00 p.m. at the Little Q. Admission is $5.00. OMBAC Division II squad travels north to play two matches against South Orange County.
Source: OMBACRugby.com
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