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OMBAC Defeats Charlotte In Super League "Friendly" - Big second half paves way for comfortable win
(San Diego, CA) 09 March  -- For 40 minutes today, it looked like the OMBAC rugby team was the team attempting to earn a right to play in the USA Rugby Super League, not their opponents, the Charlotte Old Originals. But after a second half in which OMBAC outscored the visitors 34-0, there was no doubt which team belonged. In defeat, Charlotte, with their physical and determined play, did play some impressive rugby at times and would be a solid addition to the Super League. The home side got the crowd on its feet in scoring the first try of the match. From a scrum near midfield, #8 Dan Payne picked up and passed to his scrumhalf Ghian Snyman. He found support in Alistair Steele who carried it near the Charlotte 22-meter line. With defenders swarming, Steele found inside help from flanker Derres Catalano who rambled the final 20 meters for the score. A couple of OMBAC penalties led to two George Miller penalty kicks that put Charlotte up 6-5 after 15 minutes. OMBAC flyhalf Matt Alexander wasted little time in putting his side back out in front with a well struck 40 meter effort into the breeze. The physical style of Charlotte began to loosen up the OMBAC defense and the visitors were soon rewarded for their efforts. Charlotte's first try of the match was aided by a not releasing call on an OMBAC ball carrier. The Old Originals took the quick tap and center Jeff Reuther found himself with loads of space in view. He was finally hung up near the OMBAC line but support soon arrived and Charlotte was in the try zone. Ten minutes later they had their second try of the half and a 16-8 lead as Leo Hanis dove in the corner from a close range scrum. Just as the half expired Alexander added three more points with an easy penalty but it was Charlotte that went into the intermission with a 16-11 lead. OMBAC came out smoking in the second half. Two more Alexander penalties in the first five minutes grabbed the lead back for OMBAC and then the tries came. Brian Leauma ran a perfect line to receive the short pop from Snyman close to the Charlotte line. The powerful center added a second try just minutes later as Alexander reacted quickly to a Miller mishandle and proceeded to get the ball out to Leauma who beat the pursuing defenders to the line. OMBAC's next score started when Dave DiSorbo took a wayward Charlotte kick on the fly before finding winger Mark Crovelli with a pass. The impressive rookie cut back against the grain to score between the poles. Alexander finished off the scoring with a nice run to the line after showing the ball to freeze the defenders. As he did with all the second half tries, Alexander nailed the conversion. Final score: OMBAC 45 - Charlotte 16. "We were absolutely pathetic in the first half," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "But we came out really well in the second half and played some pretty good rugby. We can't afford any performances like that first half once the season gets under way." The day started out bright for the home side as OMBAC's Division II first side exacted some revenge on their Old Aztecs counterparts with a thrilling 31-29 comeback victory in the day's first match at the Little Q. Then OMBAC's seconds went out and made it a clean sweep with a 25-5 victory. Both teams were on the short end to the Old Aztecs three weeks ago at Robb Field. The news was not so good coming out of Santa Monica as the Dolphins recorded victories over OMBAC. In the Division I first side match, OMBAC lost 50-27 while the seconds fell 31-22. There are another three games on tap at the Little Q on Saturday, March 13. OMBAC's Division I side starts off the day against Belmont Shore at 11:30 a.m. San Francisco Golden Gate will also be in town for a couple of friendlies. The seconds kick off at 1:00 p.m. before the main attraction gets underway at 3:00 p.m. The Rugby Super League regular season opener kicks off the following Saturday at 3:00 p.m. as OMBAC hosts the Dallas Harlequins.
Source: USARUGBYSUPERLEAGUE.com
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