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OMBAC Start Slow But End With Comfortable Win Over Vegas - Sit on top of table with perfect record
(San Diego, CA) 25 January  -- The OMBAC Rugby team improved its record to 3-0 in Southern California Division I league play after defeating the Las Vegas Rugby Club 55-15 at the Little Q on Saturday. Mark Crovelli led the balanced OMBAC scoring attack with a try on each side of halftime. The OMBAC pattern had little shape early on as forced passes continually thwarted promising opportunities. Las Vegas took the early initiative and the lead after just three minutes when a booming penalty from near the midway mark found its target to give the visitors the 3-0 lead. OMBAC forged ahead ten minutes later as loose-head prop Mike French was able to barrel over for the touch down. Matt Alexander slotted the conversion and the 7-3 lead. Vegas stormed right back to take a one-point advantage with an unconverted try. However, just two minutes later, OMBAC scrumhalf Kenny Wilson sliced through his wall of forwards close to the line to dot down and with Alexander's extras, the home side was back on top 14-8. With five minutes left in the half, Crovelli broke free for a long range try from his wing position and just before the whistle blew up the first stanza, veteran loose forward Mika McLeod finished off a multi-phase attack. Alexander converted the latter and OMBAC went into the half with a comfortable 26-8 lead. OMBAC quickly took advantage of the wind at their backs in the second half as just five minutes in Crovelli went off on another mad dash from his side of midway for OMBAC's fifth try of the match. At the 64-minute mark, second row Ben Oakes notched his first try of the year to make it 36-8. Several minutes later, OMBAC was back on the attack as impressive outside center, Brian Leauma, who played for Vegas last season, broke through the midfield defense before putting wing Jason Harper in the clear. With 10 minutes left in the match, Riaan Hamilton closed out the OMBAC scoring as he slipped behind the Vegas defense. Vegas did score one final try to get to double digits but it wasn't nearly enough as OMBAC won big 55-15. "We played a reasonable match against Las Vegas considering we moved in a number of new players to take a look at them," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "We were disappointed with our effort the last ten minutes of the match though as we let them score a try and convert." In the second match of the day, OMBAC displayed some of their depth as they thumped Vegas' second side 48-6. OMBAC's Division II side was in action against the Los Angeles Rugby Club at the Carson Home Depot Center. They played tough in both matches but came out on the short end in each as the Firsts went down 38-25 while the Seconds succumbed 28-11. While OMBAC's Division I team has next weekend off, the OMBAC Division II side will be back at the Little Q on Saturday, January 31 for a couple of matches against South Orange County. The first side plays at 1:00 p.m. while the seconds kickoff at 3:00 p.m. Admission at the Little Q is $5.00.
Source: OMBACRUGBY.org
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