OMBAC
RUGBYhttp://www.ombacrugby.org
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| OMBAC Defeats Austin In Super League Preseason March - Scores 28 second half points in 31-17 victory |
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(Austin, TX) 23 February --
Austin, Texas is not thought of
too fondly by those OMBAC rugby players who were around during the mid
90s. The city itself was fine—full of color and ready to party. But it
was in Austin during an early June heat wave in 1995 that OMBAC went
down to defeat in the National Championship title match to PAC; a
defeat which prevented OMBAC from winning four consecutive National
Championships. For 40 minutes on Saturday, it looked as if Austin was
going to play the role of rude host once again as OMBAC took on the
Huns in a Super League preseason friendly. There was only one score in the first half, a penalty kick off the boot of OMBAC flyhalf Matt Alexander. A very tight Hun defense and a lack of team play by the visitors dominated the rest of the first half. A sin-binning of scrumhalf Ghian Snyman midway through the first stanza further hindered OMBAC’s cause. The OMBAC forwards turned it up a notch at the start of the second half and that loosened up the Austin defense. So too did powerful runs from the likes of center Brian Leauma who thundered 35 meters towards the Huns’ line before dishing off to Alexander who covered the final 10 meters for the game’s first try. Austin didn’t let up however and scored an unconverted try to close to 10-5. OMBAC’s center combination of Riaan Hamilton and Leauma teamed up for the next try as Hamilton sprinted through a gap before putting his partner through for an easy run to the line. Prop Mike French barged over for OMBAC’s third try of the game shortly thereafter to make it 24-5. The Huns, looking to be a new member to the Super League, kept in touch with an intercept try from a loose OMBAC pass. The OMBAC forwards stormed back downfield with lock Ben Oakes crashing over for the visitor’s fourth and final try. Alexander remained perfect on the day with his fifth attempt as the lead swelled to 31-12. Austin scored a consolation try at the death to make the score a respectable 31-17. “It
was really a long morning for the players,” said OMBAC coach Bing
Dawson. “Counting the plane ride and drive to the field, we were
traveling for five hours. We didn’t play badly in the first half with
over 80% of possession. We just couldn’t score when we got it close. The
second half saw our legs and minds come around and we played to the
pattern quite well.” |
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Source: USARUGBYSUPERLEAGUE.com |