The OMBAC Stingrays will make their second appearance in three years in the USA Rugby Super League championship game after doubling up the Chicago Lions 28-14 in the semi-finals.
At home in San Diego, OMBAC ran in three tries to Chicago's one to carry the day. The Lions were never allowed to get into their rhythm by an OMBAC side that got in front early and wouldn't give up the lead.
The home team set the tone by scoring a pushover try in the eighth minute. It followed a series of rolling mauls and it was their former US Eagle forward John Tarpoff who grounded the ball over the line.
Play went back and forth for the next quarter of an hour before Stingrays' fullback Alister Steele converted on a penalty to push his team further in front 8-0. Chicago got back into the game through two quick fire penalty goals to flyhalf Duncan Blowers who narrowed the gap to 8-6 after half an hour's play.
OMBAC then took control of proceedings when their New Zealand pivot Rocky Matatumua got the ball about 35 meters out from the Lions' line. He broke a couple of tackles and ran the distance to score the Stingrays' second try of the day, Steele was good on the conversion for a 15-6 scoreline.
Another successful Steele penalty goal right on halftime gave OMBAC an 18-6 lead at the main break.
Shortly after the restart, OMBAC broke out of their own half and were on their way to the tryline when the Lions infringed in the tackle. Steele landed the resultant shot at goal to increase his team's lead to 21-6. At that point, Chicago realized that it was now or never and they began to fight back into contention.
Blowers kicked another penalty to edge his side a little closer, and then in the 68th minute, US Eagle wing David Fee breathed life into the Lions cause by scoring out wide to close the gap to 21-14. However, with Chicago attacking in OMBAC's end of the field, the Lions lost the ball and it cost them dearly.
OMBAC strung together a series of multi-phase possessions as they made their way towards the Chicago try-zone. Replacement forward MC Laubscher, who'd only just entered the fray, capped it off by scoring what turned out to be the game-winning try as time was winding down. Steele converted and OMBAC went on to win 28-14.
"Had they evened the score, it would've been tough for us," noted OMBAC head coach Joe Leota. "We haven't been tested like that this year."
Chicago's Tristan Lewis thought his club played well in the second period, but it wasn't enough to get them home. "We showed flashes of brilliance in the second half, but left it too late. You can't spot good teams that many points. It took us a while to adjust to their game and that gave them a fairly substantial lead."
OMBAC will face southern California rivals Belmont Shore in the championship game in San Francisco on June 7th after Shore dispatched reigning champions Aspen 25-20 in the other semi-final in Los Angeles.