How tight was the final weekend of the Pacific Rugby Premiership's regular season? Pretty tight.

After rolling almost unchallenged through the first seven weeks of competition, OMBAC almost missed out on clinching its spot in the upcoming PRP championship game against Belmont Shore, taking place this Saturday in San Diego. 

And by almost we mean the fate of OMBAC's season was in the balance until the very last second of its 26-7 road win at Santa Monica over the weekend.

Watch PRP Finals Day LIVE on FloRugby

When: Saturday, May 5 | Kickoff: 11 AM PT

Here’s how the three-team race for a shot at the league title was finally settled:

The Setup

Before this past Saturday's games, the PRP was log-jammed at the top. OMBAC, having lost two in a row, was at 7-2, with Belmont Shore and SFGG at 6-2-1. All three had the same number of standings points, 34. If that were to stay the situation after Round 10, then OMBAC, by virtue of having the best record, and Belmont Shore, by virtue of having the head-to-head tiebreaker over SFGG, would be in the championship game.

But… if Belmont Shore or OMBAC failed to get that four-try bonus point, SFGG would get in.

Everyone knew this. Everyone also knew that SFGG was playing Olympic Club, which had given up four tries or more in eight of its nine games. 

SFGG Puts The Pressure On

So the stage is set. SFGG beat Olympic Club by 53-14, scoring its fourth try 35 minutes into the game. Back to you, Belmont Shore and OMBAC.

Belmont Shore scored three tries in the first half against Life West and then stalled.

“That was my fault,” Belmont head coach Ray Egan said. “We had a penalty in their end and I wanted us to go for the try, for the bonus point, and we didn’t get it. Sometimes momentum can swing because of that decision, and it did.”

Shore Leaves It Late, OMBAC Leaves It Later

With 10 minutes to go, Belmont Shore was still looking for that fourth try against the Gladiators. Belmont got it, though, and could breathe again with a 34-19 victory.

And OMBAC? They left it much, much later.

Time, in fact, was basically up. Winning 21-7 late, OMBAC had scored three tries and knew they needed that fourth one against Santa Monica. After getting a penalty, they tapped and ran because they really had no option. 

Then, disaster struck: a knock-on in contact. Santa Monica was given the scrum, and they had the opportunity to probably end the game right there.

But the OMBAC scrum pulled off the needed shove and turned the ball over, allowing for one more chance in the closing seconds.

Scrumhalf Jamie Purcell sent the ball wide to flyhalf Michael Dillon, who smoothly sent a skip pass to outside center James Sarks. Now Sarks had options, including popping back inside to Mila Setafane or behind to trailing wing Tim Stanfill. Instead, he showed a tiny dummy to slow the pursuing defense and bolted for the corner. Try OMBAC, bonus point, and a place in the final.

But they left it very, very late.

PRP Finals Day kicks off Saturday, May 5, at The Little Q in San Diego. All three games are streaming LIVE on FloRugby.

All Times Pacific

5th-Place Playoff
11 AM: Olympic Club (2-8) vs. Santa Monica (2-8)

3rd-Place Playoff
1 PM: SFGG (7-2-1) vs. Life West (3-7)

Championship Match
3 PM: OMBAC (8-2) vs. Belmont Shore (7-2-1)