Post by lamaina on Jun 14, 2006 9:05:45 GMT -5
Former Troop player is mentioned in article: (Jason Raven)
Santa Clara, Calif. – OMBAC pushed through to score a try as time expired to defeat Belmont Shore 36-33 and capture their first Rugby Super League title in a rematch of the 2003 championship.
Normal starter at fullback and regular-season Rugby Super League scoring leader, Francois Viljoen, did not play due to a broken nose suffered during Wednesday’s Barclays Churchill Cup loss to the New Zealand Maori.
Belmont Shore scored quickly in the first half with winger Brad Banga charging down an OMBAC kick in the first minute of play to take the 5-0 lead.
OMBAC evened up the score at the 18th minute mark with left wing Jason Raven scoring a try to level the score.
Belmont put on the gas, scoring two tries in the next five minutes of action with flanker Mike Kedgley diving in for the first try and left wing Sinipati Uiagalele scoring just three minutes later.
Belmont was putting the pressure on OMBAC all afternoon, but outside center Chris Frara scored off a miss pass to put his club within three points with the successful conversion.
Belmont Shore and OMBAC put on a show in the last five minutes of the half with Belmont flyhalf Valenese Malifa scoring first and OMBAC’s flanker Will Hafu had a huge run up the middle, punctuated by several dummy passes to put Shore’s defense on their heals. Belmont prop and USA Rugby Men’s National Team member Chris Osentowski put the momentum right back in Belmont’s hands with a try in injury time to put the score at the half 27-19.
OMBAC started off the second half well with Jason Raven having a great 30 meter run only to have the ball turned off recklessly two phases later on a poorly-timed offload pass. OMBAC did break through in the 51st minute with flyhalf Sam Gonzales putting the penalty through the posts to put the score within a try at 27-22.
Shore had a penalty kick go through several minutes later to make it a two-score ballgame.
Jason Raven had a try set up by a great 40-meter run by Chris Frara to make the score 30-29 with the made conversion with 15 minutes left to play.
Belmont had a chance to put the game away with only ten minutes remaining, but a great run by Sinipati Uiagalele was negated on a controversial call made by the touch judge, who ruled that Uiagalele lost the lost control of the ball and knocked it on just 1-meter out from the try line.
It looked as if Belmont had the title locked up after OMBAC kept turning the ball over and gave away a penalty that scrumhalf Chris Peina kicked over the crossbar for Belmont that made the score 33-29 with only three minutes remaining.
OMBAC gained possession of the ensuing kickoff and never let Belmont have control of the ball for the rest of the match. Belmont Shore gave up several penalties in their own 22, to give OMBAC numerous quick penalties that allowed them to gain territory each time Belmont infringed. Finally, scored in dramatic fashion after Hafu dummy’s and throw the defense off guard to waltz in the try area to capture the title for his club.
OMBAC coach Eddie Pollack said of his team’s performance in the final minutes, “We trusted ourselves and had the patience to score.”
Santa Clara, Calif. – OMBAC pushed through to score a try as time expired to defeat Belmont Shore 36-33 and capture their first Rugby Super League title in a rematch of the 2003 championship.
Normal starter at fullback and regular-season Rugby Super League scoring leader, Francois Viljoen, did not play due to a broken nose suffered during Wednesday’s Barclays Churchill Cup loss to the New Zealand Maori.
Belmont Shore scored quickly in the first half with winger Brad Banga charging down an OMBAC kick in the first minute of play to take the 5-0 lead.
OMBAC evened up the score at the 18th minute mark with left wing Jason Raven scoring a try to level the score.
Belmont put on the gas, scoring two tries in the next five minutes of action with flanker Mike Kedgley diving in for the first try and left wing Sinipati Uiagalele scoring just three minutes later.
Belmont was putting the pressure on OMBAC all afternoon, but outside center Chris Frara scored off a miss pass to put his club within three points with the successful conversion.
Belmont Shore and OMBAC put on a show in the last five minutes of the half with Belmont flyhalf Valenese Malifa scoring first and OMBAC’s flanker Will Hafu had a huge run up the middle, punctuated by several dummy passes to put Shore’s defense on their heals. Belmont prop and USA Rugby Men’s National Team member Chris Osentowski put the momentum right back in Belmont’s hands with a try in injury time to put the score at the half 27-19.
OMBAC started off the second half well with Jason Raven having a great 30 meter run only to have the ball turned off recklessly two phases later on a poorly-timed offload pass. OMBAC did break through in the 51st minute with flyhalf Sam Gonzales putting the penalty through the posts to put the score within a try at 27-22.
Shore had a penalty kick go through several minutes later to make it a two-score ballgame.
Jason Raven had a try set up by a great 40-meter run by Chris Frara to make the score 30-29 with the made conversion with 15 minutes left to play.
Belmont had a chance to put the game away with only ten minutes remaining, but a great run by Sinipati Uiagalele was negated on a controversial call made by the touch judge, who ruled that Uiagalele lost the lost control of the ball and knocked it on just 1-meter out from the try line.
It looked as if Belmont had the title locked up after OMBAC kept turning the ball over and gave away a penalty that scrumhalf Chris Peina kicked over the crossbar for Belmont that made the score 33-29 with only three minutes remaining.
OMBAC gained possession of the ensuing kickoff and never let Belmont have control of the ball for the rest of the match. Belmont Shore gave up several penalties in their own 22, to give OMBAC numerous quick penalties that allowed them to gain territory each time Belmont infringed. Finally, scored in dramatic fashion after Hafu dummy’s and throw the defense off guard to waltz in the try area to capture the title for his club.
OMBAC coach Eddie Pollack said of his team’s performance in the final minutes, “We trusted ourselves and had the patience to score.”