Santa Monica logged its second victory in three weeks in the Pacific Rugby Premiership with a 36-25 defeat of The Olympic Club Saturday in Southern California.
The Dolphins fell behind twice in a back-and-forth tussle between the two. O-Club took an early lead thanks to a penalty goal from flyhalf Keegan Engelbrecht, and extended it 25 minutes into the game with a try from wing Marguise Garcia.
Engelbrecht converted that try for a 10-0 O-Club lead. But immediately after that score, Santa Monica bounced back. Center Iain Herriott halved the lead to 10-5 with a try, and as halftime approached, flyhalf Steve Stagg went over to tie the game.
Center Shawn Lee's conversion put Santa Monica ahead 12-10, but the lead was short-lived, as the Olympic Club powered over with prop Stephan Salimi, and Engelbrecht hit the exras for a 17-12 O-Club lead at the break.
In the second half, the Northern California team extended that lead to 22-12 with a try from lock Mark Bowers. But ten minutes into the second half, Santa Monica mounted a comeback. Fullback Quinn Perry's try, with lee's conversion, put the Dolphins within a score at 22-19. Then, with O-Club down a man due to a yellow card to hooker Travis Moscone, Stagg's second try game Santa Monica the lead.
Lee converted to make it 26-22 for the Dolphins. Engelbrecht answered with a penalty goal for a one-point game at 26-25. But with 15 minutes to go, Santa Monica scrumhalf Victor Woo scored to extend his team's lead (with Lee's conversion) to 33-25. Lee added a penalty goal a few minutes later to add to the cushion, and Olympic Club was unable to answer.
As a result, Santa Monica (2-6) moved off the bottom of the standings and past Olympic Club (1-7).
