OMBAC D1 Finishes season on a win
OMBAC Division 1 finished their season on Saturday with a win over San Mateo 49-24.  With a three-way tie for 4th place in the division, it came down to point differential over the season, and this big win was not enough to push them over. 

RSL continued to play strongly, with an equally exciting 43-17 win over Denver.

Eagle 7s go to Hong Kong & Adelaide
OMBAC players comprised an impressive 5 of the 12 slots for the Eagles 7s team as the team went off to Hong Kong for the annual HK 7s on March 28-30th and then to Adelaide, Australia the following week.  Representing OMBAC is Todd Clever, Matthew Hawkins, Vili Matanibukaca, Jason Pye, and Chris Wyles.  Alex Ross from SDSU is a "non-traveling reserve."
The US beat Tunisia and Chinese Tapei and lost to New Zealand on Days 1 and 2. This set up a plate quarter final versus Canada, which the Eagles lost 24-21.

This weekend in Adelaide the team avenged HK's Canada loss by defeating the Maple Leafs 19-17 with a try at full time after dropping a tough match to Australia 19-31 and then a loss to the South Africans 0-43.  The team will face England on Sunday.

RSL Recap
The RSL squad dropped a home match this past weekend against the Boston Irish Wolfhounds. According to our beat reporter, Mika McLeod, OMBAC took it to BIW for the first 60 minutes but then let them back in the game. BIW scored late and won the game 26-23 with a drop goal near end time. OMBAC looks to field a full strength side this weekend as their USA 7s players Todd Clever, Matthew Hawkins, Vili Matanibukaca, Jason Pye, and Chris Wyles return to club duties against PAC.


Division 1 Recap
Clark Bernales, former D1 Coach and technical director of the off-shoot to Ka Mate, the famed Gilligan Haka, writes that he "guest coached our div1 loss to HB two weekends back. We didn't wake up until 25 minutes in to the match - from which point forwards dominated every phase of play and took it to the Unicorns. It was a shame we couldn't have that effort from the start. That's the OMBAC coach's holy grail -- finding out what it takes to get the team going from minute 1. There are three as yet unannounced "talents" at the Div 1 squad, that, if given the chance and they make training more frequently, would light up the scoreboard: wingers Nick H and Garrett, and utility back Elwyn Bray. All three are highly athletic, make their tackles, and have a natural knack for the game (Nick and Garrett are first year players, Elwyn is a funny talker). If they stay with OMBAC look forward to seeing them in more write-ups." Good to see Clark back on the sidelines, even if it was for a just a weekend. His work and family commitments keep him from being out every weekend, but he still follows the team's progress closely. Last week the team closed out the regular season with a win over rivals Belmont Shore 27-20. Next up is the first round of playoffs on April at the Olympic Club (SFO).

RSL Recaps
The RSL squad is now one and one heading into this weekend's home match against the Boston Irish. Week One saw them defeat SFGG. (Recap is courtesy of the Rugby Super League website). California rivals OMBAC and San Francisco Golden Gate met in a stern test at Treasure Island. In the stiffly contested match, the boys from San Diego were propelled ahead in the game's closing minutes to clinch an 18-17 victory over Golden Gate. "Matt Hawkins played absolutely phenomenal during the last 15 minutes of the game. He put us on the front foot and deserves full credit for creating space for the rest of the team to work off of," OMBAC Head Coach Jason Wood said following his team's win. The following week saw the team fall to Santa Monica. (Recap again provided by USA RSL web site). It was Santa Monica who got off to a fast start and then held off a late OMBAC surge to come out victoriously 26-19. In the first half, playing with the gusty breeze, SMRC went up 21-0. Having switched ends OMBAC found the running a little more to their liking. Ten minutes in it was the ageless wing, Jason Raven who outpaced the defense to the corner. OMBAC flyhalf Gareth Hunter's conversion was good, 21-7. At the 23rd minute it was Raven who found himself in space again and for the second time he was able to outrun the cover defense to touchdown. Hunter was good again, 21-14. Santa Monica hooker and captain (& former OMBAC player), Aaron Blatt then put an end to the OMBAC comeback when he took the ball from the base of a ruck about a meter from the try line and bulled his way over. Cremin's conversion was wide, 26-14. OMBAC wasn't going to give up though and it was second row, Jess Witkowicki who scored the games final points. Witkowicki found himself outside with Raven. As Raven was being bundled into touch he was able to find the lanky lock inside and offload the ball. Witkowicki then had nothing but green grass ahead as he touched down. Hunter missed the final conversion, 26-19. "This is such a tough conference," stated OMBAC coach, Jason Wood after the game. "You can't really afford to lose a home game and expect to make it into the playoffs.

SMRC: Tries 3 (Hughes, Daniels, Blatt): Conversions 1 (Cremin): Penalties 3 (Cremin)
OMBAC: Tries 3 (Raven 2, Witkowicki); Conversions 2 (Hunter)


Division 1 Recap
The D1 team sits at a record of 4-3. Recent victories include 43-22 over the not so smug smogsters of San Fernando Valley, 52-15 over the city that should be renamed after Bill Clinton deemed her not so saintly Santa Monica, 39-29 over the grunions that run better from the ocean than on the pitch Santa Barbara, and last weeks 25-12 loss to the one horned fairy tales from Huntington Beach. After this week's match, it's a 2 week break and then the playoffs start.


Division 2 Recap
Its tough to find much info on the D2 squad for this landlocked Minnesotan reporter. Sources tell me they lost to Riverside 0-53 on March 15th and came up short last weekend against North County 3-48. As far as details, its kind of like college, in that I don't remember too much...