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USA Rugby: OMBAC Rains Supreme At Club 7s Championship
13 August  2001 - Conshohocken, PA - In a game-shortened weekend that included non-stop rain, the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) from San Diego defeated the Denver Barbarians at the USA Rugby National Club 7s Championship 17-7. Heading into Sunday's play at the Club 7s Championships, three teams had unblemished records. OMBAC, the Denver Barbarians and the San Jose Seahawks all went 3-0 on Saturday to win their respective pools. The last pool champion, Old Puget Sound Beach RFC (OPSB), came from what was viewed by most as the toughest pool in the event. At the end of Saturday's pool play three of the four teams in Pool C were tied with 2-1 records. OPSB advanced as the number one seed based on tie-breaker criteria, with Northern Virginia RFC (NOVA) moving on as the number two seed, who moved passed the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) by one point in the criteria process. Sunday matches began on schedule, but an hour into match play, the rain began to fall. Due to the increased rainfall and potential damage to the fields, several games had to be cancelled. All Bowl and Plate matches (matches which determine 5th-12th place) for the remainder of the day had to be cancelled. However, the rain-soaked crowd was treated to some very exciting rugby, which featured two overtime matches. In the early morning matches, OMBAC defeated the Maryland Exiles 21-0, to advance to the championship semifinals, where they would be face NOVA, who upset the San Jose Seahawks, led by current USA Eagle Jovesa Navailu, 19-14. The last two teams to make it to the championship semifinal were OPSB, who defeated Charlotte 19-14, in a very exciting overtime match, and the Denver Barbarians, who outscored the Jason Raven-led Belmont Shore RFC, 17-7. OMBAC drew first blood in the first semifinal match versus NOVA, with Nelo Lui scoring a try with 4:05 remaining in the first half of play. The conversion kick was no good by Lui as OMBAC led 5-0. Moments later NOVA's Prince Hill, made a spectacular move to evade the OMBAC defense and raced 60-meters down the pitch only to be tackled inches from the corner of the in goal by Dave DiSorbo. Both teams would play stingy defense the rest of the half as the score remained 5-0 at the half. In the second half, OMBAC's Malakai Delai pitched the ball to speedster Derek Dahlen for a breakaway score as OMBAC increased its lead to 10-7, as the conversion in the rain was once again no good. The remaining moments of the second half featured both teams trading possessions, but neither team could capitalize until Prince Hill of NOVA made one of the best efforts of the day to overpower three OMBAC player's to touch the ball in goal just right of the posts. Seconds after the conversion kick went through the uprights, the final whistle blew, and the score ended 10-7 in favor of OMBAC. In the second semifinal, Denver jumped ahead of OPSB in the first minutes of the game as tournament MVP, Jone Naqica, outpaced Luke Erenavula of OPSB who was covering the sweeper position. The conversion was good by Naqica and the score was 7-0 Denver. OPSB responded quickly as Finau Puloka scored a try in the corner and Luke Erenavula converted the difficult corner conversion making the score 7-7 with 3:21 remaining in the first half. Denver's Naqica scored one more try and conversion as time expired on the first half as Denver led 14-7. Denver didn't waste any time in the second half as Rich Kindel scored a try in the corner, the conversion was no good as the scored was 19-7 in favor of Denver. OPSB then began a furious charge as Levi Tamaivena scored a try with 4 minutes left, but the difficult conversion was no good as OPSB closed the gap to 19-12. With 1:37 left, Takilesi Uluilakepa scored under the posts and Erenavula made good on the conversion to bring the score to 19-19. Denver tried to put some quick points on the board but OPSB played a strong defense for the remainder of the second half to force overtime. In the sudden death overtime, OPSB kicked off to Denver. Jone Naqica was stopped by Luke Erenavula as he tried to push the ball in for a try. The play gave a penalty to Denver and tournament MVP, Jone Naqica made good on a penalty kick as the game ended and the final score was 22-19 in favor of Denver. NOVA would finish the day with a 3rd place finish in the Championships as they won the Cup consolation by forfeit over OPSB. The final match of the day put undefeated OMBAC versus the Denver Barbarians in the Championship Cup Final. As the whistle blew to start play, the rains once again began to fall. OMBAC took the ball and spent the first four minutes within Denver's 22, constantly pressuring Denver. Denver's defense played well and held OMBAC in check, but OMBAC eventually would push the ball across for a try as Nelo Lui placed the ball under the goal posts. The conversion was no good and the score stood at 5-0. Teams exchanged opportunities once again but it was OMBAC who would score again as Ghian Snyman would score with 1:37 left in the first half. Lui made the conversion and the scored would remain 12-0 as the teams went to halftime. As the second half started, the rain came down even heavier as Denver turned the tables and kept the pressure on OMBAC in the first few minutes of the second half. OMBAC then broke free as Malakai Delai pitched the ball to Johan Claasen as he weaved his way in for a try to push the lead to 17-0. After an OMBAC penalty, Denver's Tom Belloni pushed the ball across for a try but it was too late as Naqica made good on the conversion. The final score was 17-7 as OMBAC celebrated their second consecutive National Championship.
Source: USA Rugby.org
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