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RSL Recap (Smartly cut and pasted by Mike Tanghe) OMBAC 36 - Cal 30 A win that silenced those who hoped the Cal program could top a RSL squad for the 2nd year in a row (last year's victory courtesy of NYAC).  Read detailed write-ups on the match here: <http://www.gainline.us/gainline/2007/03/ombac_36_univ_o.html> and here <http://americanrugbynews.com/2007/03/03/ombac-tops-cal-in-champions-challenge> D1 Recap (Cleverly written by newly deputized staff reporter and Coach Clark Bernales) OMBAC 49 - Back Bay 28 This past Saturday the OMBAC D1 side bested Newport Beach's Back Bay squad 49 to 28.   For OMBAC it was study in multiple personalities that saw us explode to a 34 to 0 lead then acquiesce to the 21 point margin at the final whistle. Making his first appearance in an OMBAC jersey, and fresh off his USA 7s performance three weeks prior, Winger Jason Pye took a blind winger play from a lineout 40m that led to a Korbin Konrady try from the ensuing ruck at the goal line. (I don't remember a winger that hit the hole with pace like this since Joe Santos -- and that's my boyee!!!!) This put OMBAC up 10-0.  Earlier, master scorer Andrew Gray had started the day off with a penalty at the three minute mark.  A long Steve Neville break and inside feed to Jason Pye forced Back Bay to do all it could to slow down the pace; even if it meant not releasing the tacklee.  This brought Gray to convert another penalty raising the tally to 13-0. Two more movements initiated by Pye with finishing efforts from Rich Jeffries and Andrew Gray brought the score to 27-0.  We really seemed unstoppable at this point.  OMBAC's first half scoring was capped off by a sublime restart that nearly outshone one of OMBAC Legend Dan Lyle's patented fade pattern catches from kickoffs. It started with a Back Bay drop kick from midfield that was caught by former USD Torero Jeremy Wright.  After a short 10m burst, Wright then executed a wonderful switch with Rich "I-am-starting-to-use-my-Aussie-accent-at-the-Comber" Jeffries.  Jeffries then offloaded to RSL tweener Derres Catalano who then found Joe Forehand bursting through a seam in the middle of the park.  Forehand ran it back about 60m to score a centered try. At the 35-minute mark of the first half the score was 34-0. Human nature took over and we let them back in the game.  Back Bay scrapped away and got a penalty and a well-earned try to close the half at 34-10.  The second half was a comedy of errors for us and we let Back Bay believe they could compete.  Back and forth scoring saw the game go from 34-10 to 34-17 to 37-17 to 37-20. At the 22-minute mark a long clearing kick to Jason Pye, now at fullback, produced one of the prettiest tries of the day.  A sharp incisive counter run brought Pye close to the sideline.  Then, as if they had been playing since the early 90s together...when Nirvana, C&C Music Factory, and Vanilla Ice ruled the airwaves (and when I owned Mark Pidcock & Frank Zugovitz at the 1-2-3 radio game), Neville switched inside Pye who tossed a blind inside pass that was caught at full pace around the 50m line.  Steve then strode untouched for the centered try which changed the scoreboard (yes - it is still manned by Jon Lee, Derek Dahlen, and Crazy Eddie) to 44-20.  A Brett Fornelli try, whose pass from 9 to 10 is markedly improved, capped the OMBAC scoring on the day.  Back Bay slotted a penalty and scored late to end the day at 49-28. Needless to say, I am happy with the win but disgusted at the inability to "shut the door".  This week we will try to improve upon this performance at a better San Fernando team.  Last year, they were the league leaders when we played them and we put together one of the best games of the season and beat them handily.  We are excited at the return to D1 of utility back Ryan Claros. Through his hard work and consistency, he played a good portion of the pre-season at wing for the RSL squad. But the international-caliber depth at deep three at RSL is bringing him home.  We also look to the services of Mike Kelley (Dynamo), Bob Steele, and Derres Catalano for added improvement in our corps. Looking forward to seeing you bitter old bastards on March 31 when we play Huntington Beach which should be a great match...... Bring your mouthpieces and boots to play in the D1B match if you'd like.   Where you at Simon Matthews????? D2 Recap (Sanitized version provided by Coach Bryan Watts) OMBAC 0 - Riverside 81 We lost today to Riverside 81 to 0, but did play better as a team. I started a 17 yr old high school kid at flanker and a 19 year old at wing. This group is very young.
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