Dolphins Drop Home Finale to OMBAC
A flat and uninspired Dolphins squad who took the field looking to keep pace with Belmont Shore at the top of the league table. OMBAC controlled the run of play and kept the Dolphins on defense for much of the first 30 minutes. The defense held wave after wave of OMBAC attack. The game looked to turn in the 20th minute when Dolphin #8 Ken Aseme was sin binned for hands in on a defensive ruck. OMBAC was unable to get the upper hand, and in the pendulum swung again in the 28th minute when the OMBAC wing, Geno Mazza, was binned for a dangerous tackle. Then at the 30th minute with the Dolphins on attack a second OMBAC player was sent packing. Captain Ali Ross called for a scrum from the right sideline. The ball quickly got back into Ross’s hands and he cut through the visitors defense like a hot knife through butter, 5-0. OMBAC got a late penalty, while still shorthanded, to close the first half 5-3.
The second half opened, but the Dolphins still lacked the normal fire in their bellies, balls weren’t caught, line outs were lost, and passes weren’t straight. The game turned in the 50th minute when Aseme got his second yellow card near the Dolphin line. OMBAC, being a man up, quickly struck a the Dolphin forwards and were able to get a try at the 52 minute mark, 5-10.
The home side struck back though and moved the ball deep into OMBAC territory. Runs by flankers Joe Killefer and Andrew Woolley put the home side in prime scoring position. The ball moved through the backs hands and flyhalf Alan Gibbon looked to spring Ross again, but the OMBAC flyhalf, Eagle Zach Pangelina, intercepted the pass and went 90 meters untouched to extend the OMBAC lead, 5-17.
The OMBAC forwards scored again at the 65th minute and Pangelina added a penalty to extend OMBAC’s lead, 5-22. Still looking for scoring chances it was the Dolphins who were able to breach the OMBAC defense in the 75th minute as Woolley broke a couple of tackles and streaked 50 meters to pay dirt. Gibbon added the extras, 12-25. The Dolphins needed one final try to close the gap and earn a much needed bonus point. Pressing though, led to a final OMBAC try on full time, and a final score of 12-30.
SMRC- 12
Tries (2)- Ross, Woolley
Conversions (1)- Gibbon
OMBAC- 30
Tries (4)
Conversions (2)
Penalties (1)
1- Kalemani, Epi (Luna @ 55); 2-King, Pat; 3-Silverman, Ross (Hill @ 15); 4-Winter, Zac; 5-Cohen, David (Manavian @ 65); 6-Woolley, Andrew; 7-Killefer, Joe (Davies @ 75); 8-Aseme, Ken; 9-Carpio, Danny (Ramos @ 60); 10-Gibbon, Alan; 11-Pypers, Sean; 12-Regal, Brian (Milford @ 40); 13-Morales, Shane; 14-Martini, David (Okolu @ 75); 15-Ross, Ali (Cremin @ 78)
