Late Surge Not Enough, SMRC Fall to O-Club

via pacificrugbypremiership.com (link)

Olympic Club picked up their first win of the season with a 38-31 result over Santa Monica in Southern California on Saturday. After playing well at times but coming up empty Olympic Club finally have their reward. For Santa Monica its the continuation of a downhill slide after a strong start to the season.

Olympic Club wasted no time getting on the board as Josh Tucker scored a try just two minutes into the match. Santa Monica responded three minutes later when Philip Osborne scored and Harry Bennett converted for a 7-5 lead.

As was the nature of the match things quickly changed. Olympic Club retook the lead on a try from Andrew King before John Aseme restored the advantage for Santa Monica with a try. Chris Baumann would add to the lead with a try of his own just a five minutes later and the Dolphins would lead at halftime 17-12.

In the second half Olympic Club quickly tied the score with an effort from Michael Haley and then extended their lead to 33-17 thanks to tries from Dustin Muhn and Joseph Matavao. Santa Monica would mount a comeback and got within two after Stuart Sharpe added a couple of tries but a try just five minutes from time from Andrew Cook sealed the win for Olympic Club.

Olympic Club

Tries: Tucker, King, Haley, Muhn, Matavao, Cook

Conversions: Matavao (4)

Santa Monica

Tries: Osborne, Aseme, Baumann, Sharpe (2)

Conversions: Bennett (3)