OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.com
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OMBAC Blasts Back Bay in So Cal Semi
Final (The Win Guarantees OMBAC a Trip to the Sweet Sixteen) |
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21 April 2001 - San Diego, CA - It was a must win situation for OMBAC. Win and they're off to USA Rugby's Sweet Sixteen. Lose and they're off until next season. Fear not OMBAC supporters as the season continues on the strength of today's 39-18 victory over Back Bay at the Little Q. The last time these teams squared off it took an injury time 80-meter miracle for OMBAC to gain a one-point win. There was no need for nail-biting today as five OMBAC tries paved for the way for the comfortable win. By the time the match was 12 minutes old OMBAC had already grabbed a 17-0 lead. A quick tap penalty taken by Guy Dotan and spun out to the backs saw fullback Dickie Diack score the game's first try. Kyle Aspinall added the conversion and a further penalty to make it 10-0. The forwards then got in on the fun, stealing a Back Bay lineout at the 22 and driving ahead for hooker Sean Donovan to claim the Yahtzee. The next ten minutes saw both team's kickers tack on points to make it 20-6 and then Back Bay began to get their act together and were rewarded with an unconverted try at the 36-minute mark to make it 20-11 at the half. Another quick start by OMBAC put the game out of reach by the 80th minute. Replacement center Rolf Fraser, a young U.S. Marine pilot who grew up in Scotland, started the fireworks display with a 25-meter dash to the line after some quick recycling by the home team. Both teams were on the attack throughout the second half but the majority of play centered in the visitors' half as OMBAC used the wind at their backs to keep Bay pinned. With the pressure mounting, OMBAC's Craig Hartley filled in from his weakside wing position to score from 25-meters out. On the restart, Jess Lawton broke through the defense and fed Dotan who finished off the 80-meter try. To their credit, Back Bay continued to attack and were finally awarded a penalty try in the 78th minute. But that was all they could muster as OMBAC ran off winners, 39-18. "I think the key to the victory was our tremendous starts in both halves," said OMBAC coach Lin Walton. "The guys knew that we needed to win to extend the season and now it's off to Santa Barbara and then the Sweet Sixteen." OMBAC plays Santa Monica in UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium to determine Southern California seeding for the Sweet Sixteen. A win will see OMBAC travel to Fort Worth, TX on May 12-13 as Southern Cal's #1 team and a much more inviting draw. Defeat will see OMBAC travel north to Sacramento that same weekend as So Cal's #2 team. OMBAC's Super League team remained undefeated with a 19-9 victory over Old Blues Griffins in Hayward, CA earlier today. Victory at Denver on Saturday, May 5 will give OMBAC a home quarter-final on Saturday, May 19 at the Little Q. OMBAC's third side has also made it to the postseason as they have already made USA Rugby's Elite Eight. They travel to Rockford, IL on May 12-13 trying to make it into the Division III Finals. OMBAC Lineup -15-Dickie Diack |