In a nip and tuck game in Washington DC Sunday, San Diego side OMBAC came from behind to down the Potomac Athletic Club in a close one 29-23.
Both teams picked up bonus points, OMBAC for running in four tries and PAC for keeping the margin to within seven. The hero of the game, from OMBAC's standpoint, was ex-San Diego State winger Tim Omi who scored a hat-trick, his third try being the game winner late in proceedings.
Played under sunny skies with a light breeze and 65 degree temperatures, OMBAC took the early lead through an Alistair Steele penalty goal. Minutes later PAC struck back when left wing Josh Stallings dotted down over the line, fullback Dave Burt converted and the home team was up 7-3.
At about the midway stage of the half, Burt booted another penalty goal to extend his side's lead to 10-3. OMBAC stormed back downfield and eightman Henry Schaaf crashed over for an unconverted try, leaving the scoreline at 10-8 in PAC's favor.
Then, with around three minutes remaining in the half, PAC went in again, this time center Greg McLaughlin got the touchdown. Burt's attempted conversion went wide, but PAC took a 15-8 cushion into the main break.
The Potomac AC further extended their lead just minutes after the resumption, when right winger Danzel Van Zyl finished off a movement to make the score 20-8. Another successful Burt penalty goal a few minutes later had PAC in the driver's seat at 23-8, but OMBAC, realizing the urgency of the situation, ratcheted up their game.
The southern Californians dominated the next twenty minutes or so during which time Omi scored two of his three tries. Steele landed two more penalties and the gap closed to within one point at 23-22 to PAC.
Then in the 74th minute, Omi sliced in for his third try of the day, Steele added the icing on the cake with a successful conversion from out wide and OMBAC was back in front at 29-23. A desperate PAC hammered away at the opposition line for the last five minutes, but couldn't breach OMBAC's defense and when the final whistle blew, it was the 2001 championship finalists who carried the day.
"We showed some really good moments in the first half, but couldn't finish," said OMBAC manager Mike Tracy. "In the second half I think maybe their defense tired a little bit, while our ball control was a lot better, so we were able to finish more phases."
OMBAC head coach Joe Leota was pleased with the win, although he conceded that it wasn't pretty, "We had a game plan to execute, but didn't fulfill it and that's why we fell behind. Our lapses put us under pressure, but to come back like we did showed good composure."
"It was a very tough match, but obviously disappointing," added PAC president Tom Lyons. "I think we executed well, we attacked well, but we need to take it up a notch to be a championship team."
Red Conference:
Old Blue New York (2-0)
Chicago Lions (2-0)
Belmont Shore (2-0)
San Francisco Golden Gate (1-1)
Denver Barbarians (0-1)
Washington (0-2)
Philadelphia-Whitemarsh (0-2)
Old Puget Sound Beach (0-1)
Blue Conference:
Aspen (2-0)
OMBAC (2-0)
Dallas Harlequins (2-0)
Boston (1-1)
PAC (1-1)
Kansas City Blues (0-2)
New York Athletic Club (0-2)
Olympic Club (0-2)