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

Finchley sought to run the ball, showing early ambition seeking to run the ball. However, apart from one superb break by their excellent scrum half, this strategy yielded little reward against a very physical Nigerian defence. Anthony Obiekwe led the way, his meaty tackling forcing the game’s first turnover.  Nigerian’s counterattack carried play deep into Finchley half where the defence conceded a penalty. Joshua Bruce stepped up and coolly converted the kick for a 0 – 3 lead.

Finchley attacked but were still unable to get much change out of their determined guests. Nigerian won a scrum on the left touchline just inside their own half. Rob Hartley picked and ran from No. 8 before linking with fly half, Ugo Ekeowa. The latter beat one man drew a second and then shipped the ball on to his centres before it found its way to Luke Davids on the right wing. Davids celebrated his recent engagement by outpacing the cover defence to score in the corner.  Bruce was unsuccessful with the conversion but his side was 0 – 8 to the good and sitting pretty.

The hosts came back at Nigerian with their young and agile back line causing the visitors a few headaches. However, it was that man Obiekwe who undid their good work with a second crunching hit that sent his opposite number back-pedalling at a rate of knots before Ibi Shelleng picked his pockets to win possession wide on the left.  Nigerian shipped the ball right and rapidly through the hands. They recycled possession swinging it back to the left where Davids came into the line at pace. With two defenders ahead of him, he chipped the ball into the 22 where Bruce was rewarded for his excellent support play, latching on to the bouncing ball and riding two tackles to touch down.  His conversion extended Nigerian’s lead to 0 – 15 while taking his personal tally into double figures.

As has been an undesirable feature of their play all season long, Nigerian “”switched” once the playas felt they’d built up a comfortable lead. First, they made a complete hash of the restart before proceeding to miss a number of tackles in open play. Also, the normally reliable lineout combo of Morrison-Hanlon was having an off day, adding to the away team’s difficulties. Thanks to some excellent last-ditch tackles by the likes of Neal Fetterman and Winston Bell-Gam Nigerian were able to keep Finchley at bay.

The second half was largely forgettable for both teams though Finchley earned some respectability by scoring the only try of the period in the last play of the game. Admittedly, Nigerian had already secured victory after a penalty apiece by Bruce & Ekeowa had opened a major gap between the two sides. Yet, it is fair to note that Roger Coombs the away team’s Head Coach was less than satisfied with his side’s 2nd half performance. With the visit of Harpenden on the 14th to prepare for, a lot of his thoughts may well revolve around finding a way to get his squad playing their best rugby for a full 80 minutes rather than in the fits and starts that is their norm.

Man of The Match: Neal Fetterman – playing against his old club, Fetterman was the textbook blindside flanker, tackling any and everything in the cherry and white of Finchley with a ferocity that only Obiekwe rivalled on the day. Notable mention to Joshua Bruce for a grade A performance that included a 13 point haul.  Also, the front row of Anodu, Hanlon & Roberts completely tore the opposition apart in a display of destructive scrummaging not seen from a London Nigerian side for many a moon.

The match itself was a lively affair and the opening twenty minutes gave no clue to the eventual outcome. Nigerians started brightly with centre partnership Shelling and new signing, ex Orrell starlet Mike Fielding putting their opposite numbers under great pressure. The Nigerian pack initially capitalised on this pressure and looked to have the upper hand. However pressure was unfortunately not turned into points and the West London outfit were unable to trouble the scoreboard. The game was turned on its head after 20 minutes when Fielding suffered a ruptured bicep, forcing a major re-structure in the already heavily injury afflicted Nigerian starting line-up. Unfortunately the changes made caused some initial confusion, and a couple of mistakes led to a soft try for the Tabard winger; the referee blew his whistle and the Nigerians were looking at a 0-7 deficit.

The 2nd half again started brightly for Nigerian; with scrum half Mark Lam leading from the front with a series of scything runs and punching well above his weight in the tackle. However another mix-up in the midfield and a couple of poor tackles let the Tabard centre in for another soft try which was comfortably converted. A break away try from the kick off and some long range penalties left Nigerian 30 points adrift when they had actually been well in the game. Heads started to drop, and although the evergreen Ekeowa tried his best to pull the strings and launch a fightback, Nigerians struggled to stay with Tabard. One play saw Ekeowa, beat two men with a side step and embark on a 40 metre run down the wing; however a marvellous cover tackle from the Tabard full-back spoilt the moment.

Nigerians fought to the end and through Lam and the effervescent Akin-Olugbade they went close to restoring some pride, however it was not meant to be. For large swathes of the game it was all to play for, Saturday was to an extent an aberration, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. However there were a couple of positives, Guy Roberts and Oggy Nwoke made encouraging debuts for the 1st team, especially Roberts who gives the team added strength and depth at prop and Neal Fetterman proved he is equally adept at both hooker and flanker with a couple of heroic try saving tackles. Next week the team are looking forward to the return of at least 6 first team regulars and a return to the form of the previous week. Training should be tough this week with a lot of people owing their team mates and coaches a large dose of commitment over the next couple of weeks.

Report by Ian Morrison

Man of the Match: Neal Fetterman – easily the most consistent performer in the four rounds of the league thus far. Did not let an out-of-sorts lineout affect his efforts in open play.

1. Hisham El-Marazki

2. Neal Fetterman

3. Steve Hanlon

4. Ian Morrison

5. Babs Kehinde

6. Leon Barrett

7. Maynard Ahukanna

8. Jemi Akin-Olugbade

9. Mark Lam

10. Ugo Ekeowa

11. Bankie Irele

12. Ali Shelleng

13. Mike Fielding (r: Roberts, 20mins)

14. Oggy Nwoke

15. IK Iroche

16. Guy Roberts