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CRAVELLI Edge Belmont Shore 25-22 In Hard Fought March - Outscored four tries to three but come away with big road win
(Long Beach, CA) 17 January  -- The OMBAC rugby team made it two in a row to start out the 2004 season after a 25-22 nail biter over defending Super League Champions Belmont Shore at Cal State Long Beach. OMBAC was outscored four tries to three but the kicking of former United States Eagle Matt Alexander proved to be the difference in the outcome. Although both sides were missing some of their Super League players, many of the same standouts that took the field in last year's SuperMatch were lined up for the first clash of the season between the Southern California powerhouses. Alexander gave OMBAC a 3-0 lead 12 minutes into the match as he drilled an easy penalty opportunity. Two OMBAC newcomers had a hand in the game's first try just a few minutes later. Center Chris Frara, who had a strong match in his debut last week, broke through the Belmont midfield defense picking up about 25 meters in the process. When the defense drew near, he passed to OMBAC skipper Jason Wood who quickly dished off to Matt Hawkins. The blond haired #8, who made an immediate impact when he was inserted in last week's opening round win, had an easy time making it to the line to make it an 8-0 game. Alexander's extras increased the lead to double digits. Last year's SuperMatch MVP, Alex Hamill, scored from his wing position to halve the OMBAC lead but a second Alexander penalty upped the lead to 13-5. It didn't take long for Belmont to get back in scoring position and from a ten-meter scrum, were able to find the line again. Current Eagle and Belmont Shore flyhalf, Mike Hercus, missed the conversion that would have made it a one-point affair. OMBAC scored one more try before the first half came to a close as Frara went off on another long gallop before finding fullback Stephen Neville who crossed for his first try of the season. Alexander was off target on the conversion and OMBAC went to the intermission with an 18-10 lead. There were plenty of good moments in the second half as the early season rust was slowly being knocked off both of these precision sides. Shore made it a one point game after a third try and successful conversion by Hercus in the 56th minute. The defenses stepped up for the next 15 minutes as neither team could put across any points. With 10 minutes left in the contest, OMBAC replacement wing Jason Harper broke through the wall of Belmont defenders to dot down in the corner. Alexander's difficult conversion split the uprights and the lead was back to eight points at 25-17. Belmont scored a fourth try late in the match but the unsuccessful conversion meant OMBAC now had a three point edge at 25-22. With time running out and a scrum put-in deep in their own end, OMBAC needed a steady scrum, a good pick up and drive ahead to get some breathing room and a clearing kick to touch. They got all three and held on to win their second match of the season. "This was definitely a step up from last week's performance," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "We were able to play some guys for the first time like Mika McLeod and Dan Payne and both of them were instrumental in the win. Our backline defense was also very good. These guys are always tough to beat so it was good to get the victory." OMBAC's second side started the ball rolling with another tightly contested win. Just one point separated the two teams when all was said and done; 15-14 the final score. Meanwhile, at the Little Q, things didn't go OMBAC's way in their two Division II matches with San Fernando. OMBAC was clinging to an 8-7 lead in the first side match with 20 minutes to play but things went south from there as the visitors ran out 30-8 winners. A late penalty kick by San Fernando accounted for all the scoring in the second side match as OMBAC fell 3-0. OMBAC's Division One team is back at the Little Q on Saturday, January 24 against Las Vegas. The first side starts the day's play at 1:00 p.m. followed with the second side match at 3:00 p.m. Admission at the Little Q is $5. OMBAC's Division II teams are on the road at the Los Angeles Rugby Club.
Source: USARUGBYSUPERLEAGUE.com
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