True to the form guide, the home side started the stronger and Nigerian soon found themselves having to stoically and, on occasion, frantically defend their try line.  Aggressive defending from the makeshift back row of Leon Lam, Ali Shelleng and Jim Morrison did enough to disrupt the flow of the Chiswick halfbacks thus keeping them at bay.  Then came the Wunder Try:

Putting in to a defensive scrum on their own 5-metre line, Nigerian were under immense pressure knowing one mistake could gift the opening score to their hosts. The front 5 held firm giving Gabriel Odediran time to get his pass away to Luke Davids at fly half.  The mercurial[*] Davids shaped to clear but an onrushing Chiswick defender caused him to check and sidestep, a second defender was evaded in similar fashion and all of a sudden, finding a big hole opening up in front of him tore away down the blindside with Ugo Ekeowa in support.  The latter carried play out of the 22 before looking infield to find his skipper haring up alongside him. Shelleng Snr shipped the ball onto Jon Knott who immediately offloaded on to Ibi Shelleng on his outside.  Shelleng Jnr straightened the line, beating one defender and carrying play into the Chiswick half.  With defenders converging on him he spun out a delightful pass to Ik Iroche holding a wide position on the right wing. Iroche beat the Chiswick fullback with a step off his left foot and was able to hold off a second defender long enough to touch the ball down in the right corner.

Sparked by Davids, London Nigerian, totally against the run of play took the lead by scoring a contender for Try of the Season, one try line to another in the space of 12 or 13 seconds – the handling of the Nigerian backs making a mockery of the wet conditions.

At this point, much credit must go to Chiswick.  Having conceded 5 points to a trademark swashbuckling London Naija try, they could have suffered a crisis of confidence and retreated into their shells.  On the contrary, they dusted themselves off and went right back to Plan A.  Playing without the ball for long stretches of the game, the Nigerian defence proved itself as stubborn as any Lagos street hawker.  It took a flash of inspiration from the home side’s no. 9 to finally breach the black & green wall.  From an attacking scrum just outside the 22, he showed remarkable acceleration and elusive running to evade the despairing grasps of at least 4 Nigerian defenders before showing enough composure to ground the ball despite the distractions of a strong Ekeowa tackle on the line.  An excellent conversion by his No. 10 gave his side the lead they would not relinquish at 7 – 5.

Playing with the wind and the slope in the 2^nd half, Nigerian expected to be able to carve the winning scores.  They enjoyed a greater share of ball possession as their pack took the ascendancy. For a welcome change, the opposing team, desperate to keep hold of their slender lead, fell foul of the referee’s whistle more often.  However, with Ekeowa failing to convert the only one of thee penalties that came within kicking range, Nigerian were unable to capitalize. Chiswick on the other hand were able to extend their lead in the final quarter when their kicker succeeded in kicking one penalty through the sticks.

At 10 – 5, Nigerian were just a converted try away from regaining the lead but the Chiswick defence played with real heart and intelligence to repeatedly deny them.  The visitors’ best chance of the quarter fell to Iroche but this time around, he was well-shackled and the opportunity spurned.  Chiswick finally finished off the game with their best passage of play.  They took possession down one side of the pitch and then, very quickly, the other way stretching a tiring Nigerian defence just enough for their left wing to sidestep his way over the whitewash from 5 metres out.  15 – 5 with 6 minutes of play left, it was all over bar a little huffing and puffing.

Man of the Match

The scoreline notwithstanding, several Nigerian playas stood up to be counted.  Skipper Ali Shelleng had another outstanding game in defence; Ian Morrison was all-action across the park.  The front row of Mohammed, Hanlon & Omokhodion were rampant in the 2^nd half while the back line always looked dangerous with ball in hand.  Man of the Match though, went to the excellent Leon Lam playing out of position at blindside blanker (as opposed to the left wing).  His tackling, particularly in the first half repeatedly saved his team’s blushes

Report by Ik Iroche

Next Week

The 4^th Annual Carl Christian Memorial Day – typically the biggest in the club’s sporting year – will take place at the Linford Christie Stadium.  An All-Star team of London Naija x-Playas will take on Belsize Park (the side against whom Carl donned his boots for the last time before departing us for a better place) in an early kick-off before the 1^st XV take to the field against old rivals Finchley in a game that has all the hallmarks of a Relegation Dogfight.

If you come to watch one game this season, make it this one.  There will be a full house, plenty of food (jollof) and drink (Gulder) and emotions will run high on the pitch as Carl’s old friends wage battle in his honour.

London Nigerian RFC

1. Omokhodion, Osahon
2. Hanlon, Stephen
3. Mohammed, Usman
4. Morrison, Ian
5. Van der Linden, Brad
6. Lam, Leon
7. Shelleng, Aliyu (C)
8. Morrison, Jim (r: Ahukanna 70mins)
9. Odediran, Gabriel
10. Davids, Luke
11. Williams, Gareth
12. Knott, Jonathan
13. Shelleng, Ibi
14. Iroche, Ik
15. Ekeowa, Ugo

1. Ahukanna, Maynard
2. Irele, Francis (Lloyd Bizzle)

The address is below. For those going via public transport, get the overland train from Waterloo/Vauxhall/Clapham Junction to Barnes Bridge Station, walk over the bridge and go down the steps on your left.

Chiswick Rugby Club
Dukes Meadow
Dan Mason Drive
Chiswick
London
W4 2SH

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=521238&y=176298&z=0&sv=W4+2SH&st=2&pc=W4+2SH&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Nigerian played into the wind for the first half, and it was this force 10 gale that proved to have a major impact on the game. Medicals came at Nigerian for the first 5 minutes, and although the Nigerian pack had the advantage at scum time and at the breakdown; the backline were unable to clear their line with any efficiency. The Hungarian Referee gave a penalty after 5 minutes for “hands in the maul” and the efficient Medicals kicker converted easily. From the restart a booming 70 yard kick saw Medicals close to the Nigerian line; a wayward lineout resulted and the ball spilled, much to the horror of the Nigerians a gleeful Medical’s flanker pounced for the opening try. The 2nd try came soon after and again came from an error; with Nigerian trying to run the ball out of defence, miscommunication saw the ball intercepted again for an easy try. Nigerian fought back and a well worked driving maul from 20 metres out saw Yinka Omilani crash over for an excellent try, the conversion was missed. Nigerians were unable to capitalise on this though and the Imperial Medicals added two further tries, largely due to missed tackles. Half-time – Imperial 30 – London Nigerian 5.

The 2nd half initially looked to be going the same way, as straight from the re-start, the impressive Imperial left winger skipped round his man to score an easy try in the corner. After 50 minutes Nigerian were looking down the barrel of a large defeat. However the sun emerged from behind a cloud, the wind abated and the Nigerian pack roared into life. Not content with a defeat, the front 3 of Osahon Omokhodion, Steve Hanlon and Guy Roberts completely dismantled their opposite numbers; any scrum resulted in Nigerian ball. The rampaging Hartley and Davey took full advantage of this and made huge inroads into the Medicals territory. The first try saw Yuki Omenai finish well after slick hands from the Shelleng brothers in the centre, set him free down the left. Soon after Nigerians carried deep into the Medicals half following a break by Odediran and quick recycling saw Anthony Obiekwe smash through the line; with a 3 man overlap, Ibi Shelleng was able to keep up his near try-a-game record and give the Nigerians a sniff of victory. The next 15 minutes proved sterile, as after a series of bizarre calls from the ref – including a “foot fault” at the lineout, and penalising a rampant Nigerian scrum for collapsing (?!) – the game lost a lot of its continuity.

However Nigerian were ready for one last push, and following another strike against the head from the omnipotent Hanlon, playing his 50th game in Nigerian colours, Hartley made a break deep into Imperial territory; Morrison was on hand to continue the run, and from the resulting ruck, the gargantuan Omokhodion proved unstoppable. Medicals kicked off and the tireless Davey again brought the ball to the Medicals; his offload saw the evergreen, yet ever fast Ekeowa scream through on a great line only to be stopped close to the whitewash. Medicals put in meant nothing, as Nigeria turned the ball over for the 6th consecutive scrum. Odediran switched with Davids who powered through the line, finishing under the posts, Ekeowa (finally) nailed a conversion to give a sense of respectability to the scoreline, 37 -27.

15 Ugo Ekeowa

14 Yuki Omenai

13 Ibi Shelleng

12 Ali Shelleng

11 Antony Bayne-Charles

10 Luke Davids

9 Gabriel Odediran

1 Ossie Omokhodion

2 Steve Hanlon

3 Guy Roberts

4 Ian Morrison

5 Anthony Obiekwe

6 Andy Davey

7 Yinka Omilani (Barrett 55mins)

8 Rob Hartley

16 Leon Barrett

17 Usman Mohammed

18 Bobby Nolla

Tries: Omilani, Omenai, Omokhodion, I Shelleng, Davids

Conversion: Ekeowa

Men of The Match: The Forward Eight

Report by Ian Morrison

The game started at a frenetic pace with the kiwis looking to run everything as they played up the slope into the wind. The Nigerian defence stood strong and the new look back row of Andy Davey, Yinka Omilani and Jim Morrison tackled everything that moved, eventually forcing a penalty after five minutes for holding on. Ugo Ekeowa struck the penalty cleanly to give Nigerian a three point lead. The lead was short-lived as the enterprising New Zealand backs continued to take the game to their Nigerian counterparts. A well worked move in the corner resulted in their scrum half diving over to take the lead, the conversion was missed.  5 – 3 to the hosts. Nigerian held their composure and struck back immediately; fly half Ekeowa playing a delicate chip through for Ibi Shelling to gather and touch down under the posts within minutes, Ekeowa adding the extras to stretch the visitors’ advantage to 5 – 10. The try sparked the Nigerian backline in to life and they started to make large inroads into the New Zealand half, one such break saw fly half Ekeowa slice open the defence and carry the ball 30 metres, Captain Ali Shelleng was on his shoulder to take the scoring pass under the posts; Ekeowa converted (5 – 17). Nigerian did not sit back and continued pressure by the now omnipotent scrum forced a knock on under the posts allowing the sniper like Gabriel Odediran to score, Ekeowa again converted, to leave Nigerian 24 points to 5 ahead at halftime.

The 2^nd half saw London New Zealand again look to take the game to their guests, running everything and never letting their heads drop. Ferocious tackling by both sides meant that no quarter was given for the first 10 minutes. Eventually the free running New Zealand backs worked a blind side move to score in the corner, their fullback converting from a difficult angle. At 12 – 24, Nigerian were in no mood to surrender their lead and good work by Davey and the returning Fetterman at the breakdown enabled another turnover from which Ekeowa fly hacked through to score close to the posts with Ekeowa again converting to leave things at 12 – 31 in favour of the away team. The remainder of the 2^nd half was a quite enthralling affair with both sides playing some enterprising rugby and the resolute defences of either side proving impervious. Special mention must go to Anthony Obiekwe who played most of the match with an injured shoulder, but never once took a step back in the tackle. There was to be no more score in the final quarter, but London Nigerian must have gained heart at what was an awesome defensive performance and their ability to play and score from turnover ball and broken play a real highlight.

Man of the Match: Neal Fetterman (playing his first game after the birth of his twin boys a month ago and making a mockery of his pre-game protestations of his lack of match fitness)

Team:

15 Gareth Williams

14 Leon Barrett

13 Ibi Shelleng

12 Ali Shelleng (capt)

11 Yuki Omenai

10 Ugo Ekeowa

9   Gabriel Odediran

1  Steve Hanlon

2  Neal Fetterman

3  Guy Roberts

4  Ian Morrison

5  Anthony Obiekwe (Omokhodion 60mins)

6  Andy Davey

7  Yinka Omilani

8  Jim Morrison

16 Osahon Omokhodion

Link to directions here:
http://tinyurl.com/noql6f

"Dancing" IK Iroche
London Nigerian Rugby Football Club
Tel:    07947 190 388
Web: www.londonnigerian.com
FB: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2355009384

Many months had passed since then – months in which Harpenden established themselves as the league’s premier team while the storied Nigerian lurched from underachievement to sub-par performance – yet the wound still festered in Nigerian hearts. Barely a fortnight went by without the words “I can’t wait for the Harpenden game” escaping from London Nigerian lips. The offensive piece was posted directly underneath the team sheet on the Friday just in case any of the boys had forgotten.  This one was personal!

That was the setting for this fixture between the league’s best side with a lethal attack and the basement club with the leaky defence. Two weeks previous Harpenden had scored 89 points in their defeat of Finchley. A week later, Nigerian scored just the 21 in beating the same opposition.  This game should have been all about Harpenden but the London Nigerian boys had failed to read the script.

Welcoming the giant Chima Ijeoma back into their ranks for the first time this season, the Nigerian forwards tore into the opposition from the first whistle. Normally, a slick attacking machine, Harpenden were rattled and their engine stuttered as their hosts refused to let them settle into their patterns.  Nigerian soon established a lead through the boot of Josh Bruce before enterprising running by Ugo Ekeowa led directly to an excellent score for his captain, Aliyu Shelleng.  In spite of Nigerian’s aggressive and committed defence, Harpenden struck back with a try of their own, reminding all present of the potency of their attacking play.  Mid-way through the half and Nigerian led 16 – 8, eleven of their points coming via the boot of Bruce, the squad’s baby who has grown in stature over the last few weeks.

As halftime beckoned, Nigerian reminded the watching fans of their own much-lauded attacking credentials as good interplay between backs and forwards broke up the Harpenden defence just enough to allow the ephemeral feet of Ekeowa to carve a slaloming path through from 40 metres out to touch down under the post.  Bruce’s conversion gave them a 23 – 8 lead at the interval and victory looked all but assured.

Harpenden caught their hosts napping straight after the restart, moving the ball very quickly away from the contact areas for a score in the corner.  At 23 – 13, Nigerian still looked good for the victory though they had given the league-leaders a chink of light to aspire to.  More fine Harpenden play soon put them in front of the posts where they kicked a penalty to narrow the deficit to just seven at 23 – 16.  At this point Ali Shelleng and Rob Hartley, the pack leader, rallied their troops and Nigerian picked up the game again with big tackles from Ijeoma and Osondu Anodu forcing a turnover from the restart.  Nigerian pressure led to a Harpenden infringement in front of the posts and Ekeowa – with Bruce in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle – stepped up to stroke the kick through the uprights to restore a ten-point advantage: 26 – 16.

As the game entered the final quarter, Harpenden threw everything they could at their hosts who responded accordingly.  They did win another penalty which was converted to narrow the gap down to seven yet again.  The hosts finally put the game to bed in a move sparked off by Winston Bell-Gam.  Taking a pass off the floor from Hartley, the full-back picked an excellent line at considerable enough pace to allow him shrug off the attentions of the first two defenders.  Carrying the ball deep into Harpenden’s half, he connected with his supporting pack of forwards who recycled the ball, moved it left where Ali Shelleng showed enough strength to work his way over for a score on the left, his second of the game.  Bruce missed the conversion but at 31 – 21 with not long to go, the gig was almost certainly up for Harpenden.  To their credit, they were able to score one more excellent try out on the right but it was too little too late.  Nigerian had beaten the league’s top side making one wonder why they are floundering so low down the table. Still this was only the second time they’d managed 2 in a row all season, so it is clear that consistency is a term this side is yet to acquaint itself with.

The cuts inflicted by the infamous match report had been cauterised (especially as, to avoid a colour clash, Harpenden arrived with a set of red shirts for their hosts to play in – they were beaten in their own shirts) and now Nigerian prepared to demonstrate the art of magnanimous victory to their promotion-chasing visitors.  It was, therefore, much to their dismay that Harpenden chose to ignore a long-held tradition of the game of rugby – sharing a post-match meal and beer with their opposition.  Win or lose, it has always been one of the selling points of the Gentleman’s Game that after pounding seven bells out of each other for 80 minutes, rival teams can get together and laugh about the game afterwards.  By choosing to head straight back up the road to Hertfordshire without even the pretence of an apology, Harpenden demonstrated a lack of respect for their opponents worse than the appalling match report had.  It would take a shocking loss in form for promotion to escape them now but if they take this attitude up to London 2 North with them, they will make very few friends indeed.

Nigerian now have a Rest Week to shake off the various injuries and niggles before travelling to Twickenham on 28 March.  Twickenham are the league’s form team with 3 wins in a row and they occupy the place in the league directly above Nigerian who are desperate to avoid relegation.  So that represents an even bigger fixture for them than the one just gone.  It is too early to celebrate.

Man of the Match: The Nigerian forwards won this match, thoroughly dominating Harpenden in the scrums and in the contact areas.  Rob Hartley for his leadership, his ball carrying and his fine work in the line-out was Roger Coomb’s pick of an outstanding bunch.  Neal Fetterman was outstanding (yet again), the front row had another monumental game and Ijeoma’s cameo was not far off Hall of Fame stuff.