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OMBAC DEFEAT DEFENDING CHAMPS 27-22: Victory over Aspen vaults OMBAC to top of Blue Division
(San Diego, CA) 29 March 2003 -- Although the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) rugby team has been to the Final Four of the Rugby Super League playoffs the past three seasons, the Super League title has eluded them. Just as it has since the league was formed in 1997. Yesterday, OMBAC sent out a midseason warning to the rest of the competition that they will once again be around at season’s end after a hard fought 27-22 victory over the defending champions, the Gentlemen of Aspen. Both teams came into the match at the Little Q undefeated after two rounds of play. Aspen had registered easy wins over the Olympic Club and Kansas City while OMBAC defeated the O-Club and PAC. Aspen was without veterans Mark Williams, Jason Walker and Alec Parker but other former National Team players Tasi Mounga, Juan Grobler, Brian Hightower and Chris Morrow were in town enjoying the San Diego sunshine. The absence of key Aspen players was offset by OMBAC’s loss of Conrad Hodgson, Kevin Dalzell, Riaan Hamilton and John Tarpoff, all on tour representing the United States National Team. It was a gorgeous day for rugby and a good crowd was on hand to see the two most dominant teams in U.S. rugby over the past 20 years square off. The match started at a frenetic pace and it was OMBAC that drew first blood just four minutes into the match. Good continuity between the backs and forwards freed up hooker Matt Wyatt in the center of the field and he galloped in from 22 meters out. The easy conversion attempt by Alistair Steele split the uprights to put the locals out in front 7-0. Aspen answered quickly as fleet-footed Ryan Smythe walked in for the easiest of tries as OMBAC’s defense was far outnumbered on the flank and the ball was passed out wide to the diminutive winger. The extras were tacked on and ten minutes in, the game was deadlocked at seven. OMBAC took advantage of the first half wind at their backs and played down in the Aspen half for much of the next 15 minutes of play. They were rewarded for more sustained ball retention as wing Dave DiSorbo received an excellent pass from Siaa Taveuveu to dot down unmolested in the corner. Steele, who’s kicking has improved markedly this season, added the angled conversion and OMBAC regained the seven-point edge. The battle raged on for the next ten minutes as first Aspen would throw caution to the wind and then it was OMBAC’s turn for a run at the line. It was Aspen that delivered the next blow that counted. After OMBAC was whistled for a forward pass, numbers out wide again favored Aspen and the speedy Smythe was able to touch down in the corner for his second try of the match. The conversion was no good and the OMBAC lead dwindled to two. Steele’s boot produced the next six points as two penalty kicks sailed through the uprights giving OMBAC its biggest lead of the match at 20-12. While those points were big, the most memorable play of the match happened three minutes from halftime. A kick past the Aspen backline was chased down by Smythe. After he gathered, he tried to dance around his opposite, DiSorb but the OMBAC veteran snared Smythe securely by the jersey. In his attempt to get rid of the ball before he was flung into touch, Smythe popped it up perfectly for the high flying Taveuveu and there was no chance of the cover defense to cut him off from adding to OMBAC’s lead. Another difficult conversion by Steele brought the halftime score to 27-12 in favor of OMBAC. With the wind now at their backs in the second 40, Aspen kept the action in the OMBAC side of midfield for most of the remainder of the match. Most of the offensive thrust was delivered by Aspen but hard-hitting, one-time tackling by the blue and whites continually ruined Aspen opportunities. Midway through the half Aspen captain Brian Hightower got his team within range with a converted try. A penalty kick from near midfield made it 27-22 with seven minutes still left to play. OMBAC continued to play aggressive defense and when they did get a taste of the ball they weren’t afraid to have a run themselves. This strategy almost proved costly in the game’s final minute. OMBAC stole an Aspen possession in the shadows of its own goalposts but instead of just kicking it downfield for the lineout, elected to run from deep. The pass was knocked on directly in front of the posts, five meters from the OMBAC line. A scrum to Aspen in perfect attacking position with plenty of room to operate on both sides of the scrum. As expected, Aspen won the scrum and instantly went on the attack. The OMBAC defense held firm through repeated blasts at the line and when the ball was carried into touch just two meters from the OMBAC line, referee Kevin McCaslin blew full-time, ending another exciting match at the Little Q. “I would have liked to have seen the ball spend a little more time in the Aspen side of the field in the second half,” said relieved OMBAC coach Joe Leota. “But it was a good win for us as we continue to develop. Aspen is a tremendous side and I’m sure they’ll play a major role in this year’s proceedings. It also proved to our guys that we can play with any team in this competition and if we continue to improve, we too may be influential in this year’s final say.” The win pushed OMBAC to the top of the table in the Super League’s Blue Division with a 3-0 record and 14 points. OMBAC looks to protect that lead Saturday at the Little Q as they host the Kansas City Blues. The Blues registered their first win of the season this past weekend as they routed the New York Athletic Club 36-13. In other Super League action, Belmont Shore remained undefeated and stay atop the Red Division standings with a 35-20 win over the Chicago Lions; Boston spanked the Dallas Harlequins 32-14; PAC won on the road at the Olympic Club 38-22; Old Blue New York won at Denver; San Francisco Golden Gate won on the road at Old Puget Sound Beach; and Philly-Whitemarsh was too strong at home against Washington. OMBAC’s match against Kansas City kicks off at 3:00 p.m. The first match of the day begins at 1:00 p.m. as the San Diego Surfers women’s rugby team plays a historic first women’s match at the Little Q against Las Vegas.
Source: OMBACRugby.com
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