The OMBAC Wallabies hosted the Coastal Dragons for the opening game of the U18 SoCal South Gold Division this past weekend. 

Both teams were missing keys players due to SAT testing, but it was the Dragons that looked the most out of sorts in the early stages. Ethan McVeigh opened the scoring when he cut through a disjointed defensive line and converted his own try. Five minutes later he scored again by rounding off a good effort by the forwards that took the ball to within a meter of the line and dove over from the base of the ruck. Again, McVeigh converted his own try for the 14-0 OMBAC lead.

The Dragons made some strategic substitutions and were able to stem the tide, secure some possession and get into the OMBAC 22 for the first time. There the big loosehead prop Will Fox was able to crash over.  OMBAC 14, Dragons 5. 

OMBAC responded quickly when the lock forward Daniel Komorowski, broke the line to dot down under the poles and make it 21-5. A penalty and yellow card for a high tackle just before halftime saw OMBAC reduced to 14 men, and the Dragons capitalized when Justin Petersen scored, and this time Nico Gilli able to add the two points.  OMBAC 21, Dragons 12 at halftime.

OMBAC were guilty of a second dangerous tackle minutes into the second half, but this time referee Graydon Orr reached for a red card.  With only 13 men on the field, the Dragons found space out wide and Will Roenker scored in the corner, and Gilli made the conversion.  OMBAC 21-19 Dragons.  OMBAC were not going to lie down, and fought hard keeping the ball tight in the forwards, and were rewarded with a Mathew Macie try and conversion by McVeigh.  OMBAC 28-19 Dragons.  Dangerous tackles continued to plague OMBAC, and when Curren Castro went over in the corner, a swinging arm high tackle resulted in a penalty try and a second yellow card for the same player, so it was elevated to a red card.  OMBAC 28, Coast Dragons 26. The Dragons were now at full strength with the late arrival of the boys writing SATs, and with only 13 men on the field, OMBAC was stretched thin. Gilli and Petersen each scored, and Jacob Jenkins ran in two more for a final score of OMBAC 28, Dragons 52.

The penalties hurt OMBAC in the end and the red cards will have an ongoing effect as they usually mean a longer stand-down for the red-carded player. At full strength OMBAC was moving well. Next week, OMBAC takes on the powerful AZTEC Warriors and the Dragons play the Irvine Rhinos.