Last minute score denies Dolphins again

Belmont 29 – 28 Santa Monica

If there has been one characteristic of the Pacific Rugby Premiership through four rounds its been close matches, exemplified this week by Belmont Shore’s 29-28 win over Santa Monica. The match was ruled by one side or the other for long stretches before evening out to what would be a very exciting finish.

Led by their forwards Belmont had more control in the first half and it was only fitting that prop Jake Grubb would get the first try of the game in the 10th minute. Kameron Moeller made the conversion to put the score at 7-0. He then extended the team to 10-0 after a penalty only four minutes later.

Santa Monica flyhalf Mathieu Lesgourgues would do his best to pull Santa Monica back in the match with a penalty of his own in the 33rd minutes but Belmont hooker Mike Sweet scored a try and Moeller converted to make it 17-3 at halftime.

Knowing they needed to put points on the board in the second half Santa Monica did well to find their backs that had been dangerous all season. Martial Chaput scored a dozen minutes into the second stanza and then added another try a few minutes later. Only one of the conversion went through, however, making the score 18-17 and giving Santa Monica the lead.

With only twenty minutes left Belmont began to reassert themselves. Lock Sam Lilley helped Belmont retake the lead in the 62nd minute with a try before Santa Monica answered back through Alan Gibbon. Dave Martini continued his hot form and put his season total closer to a double-digits with a try in the 69th minute. The conversion made it 28-24 for Santa Monica.

But it was Belmont’s day. Winger Justin Boyd scored with six minutes to go to put Belmont in front 29-28 after the conversion missed. Santa Monica had a chance at the end after they probed inside the Belmont Shore 40 meter line but a knock on allowed Belmont to clear and seal the game.