OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.com
|
ARCHIVED NEWS |
|
|
| Late Rally Sees OMBAC Past SF Golden Gate 40-13 (Caps Off Huge Day At The Little Q) |
|---|
|
14 April 2001 - San Diego - OMBAC ended its Super League regular home season today at the Little Q with a 40-13 victory over San Francisco Golden Gate in front of a large appreciative crowd. It was a close match for 60 minutes with OMBAC clinging to a 18-13 lead before the floodgates opened up. Three tries in the last quarter provided the winning margin and allowed OMBAC to pick up a bonus point in the process for dotting down five tries. The win keeps OMBAC perfect in the Super League Western Conference at 5-0 while the loss drops SFGG to 2-2. On a beautiful San Diego day it was the visitors that got things rolling with an early try scored on the outside. Eagle flyhalf Grant Wells kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 10 minutes in. At the 15-minute mark Nelu put OMBAC on the scoreboard with a penalty kick to cut the deficit to 7-3. Midway through the half OMBAC was forced to make a change as winger Jason Harper pulled up with a bum hamstring. His replacement, Dave DiSorbo, immediately made an impact as his try saving tackle kept OMBAC in touch. Minutes after his defensive gem, DiSorbo gave OMBAC the lead as he finished off sixth phase possession. The tight five did most of the grunt work in the lead-up, along with Mike Stanaway, who was a factor throughout the match. Fullback Johan Claasen continued his try-scoring spree as he dragged three defenders over the line to increase OMBAC's lead. After missing on his first conversion, Alistair Steele finished off the Claasen try, then added a penalty to put OMBAC up 18-7 as the furious paced and physical first half came to a close. Harper wasn't the only casualty for the home team as big second rower Mark Day had to leave the match with a neck injury and to make matters worse for coach Bing Dawson and his OMBAC team, SFGG had the wind at their backs in the second spell. After ten minutes and two Wells' penalties the lead was down to just five points at 18-13. SFGG went right back on attack and put together a savage attack at the OMBAC tryline but the OMBAC forwards rose time and again on defense to keep their line clear. Scrumhalf Kenny Wilson, another of the OMBAC stars on the day, then guided OMBAC back down field for another Steele penalty to make it 21-13. OMBAC wing Malakai Delai, who scored an amazing try at the close of last week's match, outdid that effort this afternoon to give OMBAC an even bigger cushion. Getting ready to exit the match with an ailing shoulder, the flying Fijian received the ball 40 meters from the opposition tryline. A handful of jukes and dummies later, and with the last SFGG defender completely befuddled, Delai scored in the corner to make it 26-13 with 13 minutes left. A combination of more strong OMBAC forward muscle and some untimely miscues in the SFGG backline allowed OMBAC to continue their assault on the enemy line. Wilson capped off his fine performance with a try from short range. His conversion made it 33-13. With virtually no time left, DiSorbo scored his second of the day as he raced 70 minutes outdistancing the cover defense. A final conversion saw OMBAC hit the 40-point mark. "The guys made me proud today," said OMBAC coach Bing Dawson. "Guys were playing hurt. We lost a lot of players during the match but the guys who came in really stepped up and did the job in a very physical match. It's beginning to come together." OMBAC will look to extend their winning streak this Sunday as the team travels to Oakland to take on the Old Blues Griffins. OBG has blown hot and cold all year, winning their season opener over Belmont Shore before dropping their next two, including a 72-0 drubbing to Aspen. OMBAC's Southern California squad prepared for the playoffs with a 77-0 whitewash of the Old Aztecs. OMBAC hosts Back Bay in one Southern California semi-final match this Saturday at the Little Q. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. In other action today, OMBAC's IIIs posted a shutout as well downing San Diego State University 24-0. And in the curtain raiser to the Super League match, Rancho Bernardo High School defeated a Canadian touring high school team 17-5 as high school rugby hits the Little Q. OMBAC Lineup -15-Johan Claasen |