Feb. 28, 2007
BERKELEY - With its multiple national championships, a roster stocked with 12 National Team members and a host of experienced ex-pats, and one of the most attractive post-collegiate destinations in American rugby, Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, the 2006 Rugby Super League champion, will be no ordinary opponent when the Golden Bears run out between the posts Saturday, March 3, for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
"I suppose it's like playing the National Team, only OMBAC might be more organized as a team that plays together all year," said head coach Jack Clark. "Certainly in Bing Dawson, OMBAC has the most accomplished coach on the club scene."
Cal must first take on Sacramento State at 11 a.m. before its second lineup of the day plays the RSL champs. Should the Bears beat the Hornets in the early game, Cal's unbeaten record will be in acute jeopardy against a supremely talented XV from San Diego.
Last August OMBAC became the first club ever to win the national championships in Super League 15s and Club 7s during the same year. "For our players with post-collegiate rugby plans, San Diego and the OMBAC team is the most attractive option available," said Clark. "They are a very well-run club in a train-everyday climate."
The Bears aren't too shabby either, of course, but they certainly will be the younger, lighter and less-experienced team on Saturday. Many head-to-head matchups won't be determined until late in the week, but in evaluating both rosters, Cal may face the most pressure in the battle between the two front fives.
Junior Kevin Kroll, 20 years old and only 200 pounds, will link up at tighthead prop with 21-year-old juniors Chris Biller at hooker and Sean Wilhelmy at loosehead prop. The Bears' front row will face a duo of props chosen from among 31-year-old Mike French, a 6-2, 252-pound member of the National Team and a nationally ranked wrestler while at Cal Poly; Jason Wood, 36 years old and a 13-year territorial all-star; Tom Wagner, the starting tighthead in the '06 RSL final with multiple All-Marine selctions; and veteran Troy Donoghue. Choices at hooker for OMBAC include Joey Brown from Minneapolis and Will Hafu, who started at flanker and scored the winning try in the '06 RSL final.
In the second row, 19-year-old Cal sophomore Eric Fry will be jumping and scrumming against National Team member Latu Paloka, an All-Marine selection who checks in at 6-4 and 270 pounds. Fry is joined at lock by senior newcomer Garrett Cross, who will match up against either Jacob Stanfill '06, a two-time All-American and National Team pool selection, or Kevin Boyer, a former All-American at the University of Colorado.
The back row is normally a strong suit for the Bears, with Joe Welch joining All-Americans Rikus Pretorius and Louis Stanfill, but OMBAC will counter with Todd Clever (6-4, 215), the MVP of last year's Churchill Cup series with 13 National Team appearances; South African Matt Hawkins or Anthony Chaffee, a Pacific Northwest standout; and No. 8 Dan Payne, OMBAC's captain and a National Team pool selection. Other noteworthy back-rowers on OMBAC's roster include former Arkansas State All-American flanker Jarvis Albury, a National Team selection.
Cal's backline will attempt to operate against OMBAC's outstanding set of backs. Scrumhalf Brendan Wright is a solid option for the Bears as a fifth-year senior. In midfield, Cal and Piedmont High School's Pat Castles is on injury watch after taking a knock during Cal's victory over UBC last week. Senior Zak Triplett can play either scrumhalf or flyhalf, as can David Poettcker, another possible choice at fullback. Midfield choices include senior captain Chase Brogan and inside center Gary Golding. Juniors Ryan Harris, Scott Kidd and Jason Lee are three candidates to fill the two wing positions, with Chris Gurecki the probable starter at fullback.
OMBAC's choice at scrumhalf appears to be Ghian Snyman, a longtime veteran of Super League play. The number 10 jersey may be worn by flyhalf Sammy Gonzales, a former San Diego State All-American and SoCal All-Star; or Dave Bert, a top-10 RSL scorer in 2006 who could also feature at fullback. Options at center include National 7s Team captain Riaan Hamilton, National 7s teammate Tim Omi, South African Nick Hawkins and Mike Price.
Potential threats on the wings and at fullback for OMBAC include Brian Barnard, MVP of the North American 4 Series and National Team member; Jeff Hullinger, the BYU grad who led all try-scorers on the 2006 National Team; and National Team members Jason Raven and Jason Pye.
Said OMBAC head coach Bing Dawson of his roster, "These are great individuals, but we're going to need a solid defense over the first, second, third and fourth phase. Will our guys have the patience to keep the pressure on as a team and not start playing as individuals? That's going to be the story of the game."
Even if Cal measures up in the battle of the forwards and in midfield, it gets no easier when the contest approaches the sideline, where the Bears' smallest man on the field, 140-pound Jason Lee, will await OMBAC's attack. "Jason gets accustomed to being a rag doll each game, but we'll need to look after him in this match," said Clark.
OMBAC averaged 40 points per game en route to its 2006 RSL title and won a couple of tight contests down the stretch, beating NYAC, 30-18, in the quarterfinals, the Chicago Lions in the semis, 39-34, and rival Belmont Shore in the championship, 36-33.
The Bears were also three-point victors in their 2006 title match, beating Brigham Young University, 29-26, in the national collegiate championship. Cal had a scoring average of 39 points per game last season.
The two squads share one common opponent, NYAC, from 2006. Cal beat Winged Foot last March on Witter Rugby Field, 33-27. OMBAC won its meeting with NYAC in the RSL quarters by double the margin.
"I have nothing but respect for OMBAC. They are a class outfit and the most outstanding senior club in the nation," Clark said. "When we scheduled this match it seemed like a good idea. Now I'm not sure. I don't think our SAT scores will be of much help on Saturday."
It will be a test for OMBAC as well this weekend. "It's about having an opportunity to expose our players to the preeminent collegiate rugby team and everything that goes with it, Witter Rugby Field and the whole process," said coach Dawson.
Cal, perceived to be the underdog against OMBAC, can benefit from the challenge in many ways as it seeks out the highest level of competition. OMBAC, by comparison, may not seem to have much to gain from beating the Bears as the favorite.
"That's rubbish," said Clark. "We are in that same situation in most of our university matches and it doesn't keep us from competing. OMBAC are champions. Champions compete. What is true is that playing against older, more-experienced players has become an important aspect of our team's development. In the collegiate postseason we will be required to play against players who are older than college age and matches like this are necessary preparations."
NOTES:
CAL RUGBY ALUMNI TO OMBAC
• Former Golden Bears who have played for OMBAC include Kevin Dalzell, who made 42 appearances with the National Team in the late-'90s through 2003; centers Ray Green and Eddie Schram, All-Americans with multiple appearances on the National Team in the mid-'90s; Karl Crumpacker, a member of the 1974 Golden Bears football and rugby teams; Rob Lumkong , an All-American and who made 20 National Team appearances through 1999; Simon Terry Lloyd, flanker and co-captain of Cal's 1999 national champion team; Jeff Arreguy, a Cal All-American; Scott Yungling, also an All-American who twice appeared for the National Team in 1997; and Ron Zenker, a 1985 football and rugby player who made two National Team appearances in the late-'80s.
ORIGIN OF RUGBY SUPER LEAGUE
• The USA Rugby Super League was co-founded in 1996 by Keith Engelbrecht, father of Cal sophomore flyhalf Keegan Engelbrecht.
