The Pacific Rugby Premiership tightened up a little bit as #2 Belmont Shore defeated #1 Life West 30-19 over the weekend.

In an intense, physical encounter, the momentum ebbed and flowed for both teams. Belmont led early thanks to a try from center Max Paronelli, but the Gladiators replied with No. 8 Siupeli Sakalia and wing Fatai Vailala going over for a 12-5 lead (Guillaume Cazenave converting Sakalia's effort). 

Veteran lock Sam Lilley bulled over and Daniel Thomas's conversion tied the game at 12-12. But Life West regained the lead in the first minute of the second half with Vailala's second.

Over the course of the second half, Belmont Shore inched closer, as Thomas slotted two penalties to make it 19-18 Life West with 15 minutes to go. That's when Shore opened it up. Center Adriano Ojeda charged in to put his side ahead, and then capped it off with his season at the stroke of full time, denying Life West a close-loss bonus point.

OMBAC Explosion

OMBAC blew open a tight game with Santa Monica in the final ten minutes. Down 17-12, the San Diego club got tries from the old guys: flanker Shame Dempsey (not so old), scrumhalf Jamie Purcell, prop Jason Wood, and coach and lock Tai Tuisamoa (who is supposed to be retired). With Michael Dillon converting all four, a 17-12 deficit became a 40-17 runaway.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Merlins To 3rd

The Glendale Merlins continued their hot streak with a 42-35 defeat of an improving San Francisco Golden Gate. Gate made a game of it; down 34-7 SFGG scored four tries in the final 30 minutes to make it 37-35 with time winding down.

Patrick Latu notched two of those. 

But Siale Maka finished it all off for Glendale with a try to secure the win. Tries from Fehoko Faniaka, Clint Cook, Colin Gregory, and Ryan Chavkin, with Alex Walsh adding nine points with the boot, staked Glendale to a 29-7 lead.

Glendale is now 4-3-1 and has leapfrogged both Santa Monica into 3rd in the PRP—not bad for a team that started the season 0-3.

See PRP Standings>>