Racing RFC held defending champions Cowrie RFC to a-3-all draw in the final match of the”Friends Of Rugby” organised South West Rugby League which rounded off on Saturday at the National Institute For Sports pitch inside the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos. According to the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Mr. Ntiense Williams, […]
via Racing RFC Holds Cowrie RFC in South West Rugby League Finals — newfanzoneblog
Friends of Rugby have announced that the CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited sponsored League will resume its second round of matches today Saturday, 18th November at the National Stadium NIS pitch, Surulere Lagos. Teams will swing into action as they intensify preparation in their quest to improve and consolidate their positions on the […]
The CMB Building Maintenance and Inv. Co. Ltd sponsored South West Rugby league will resume on Saturday at the mainbowl of the National Stadium from 12pm. According to the fixture released by the technical department of the league, the 1st game of the day will be between division 2 sides, Eco II and Lagos RFC, […]
via South West Rugby League: Police, Racing and Cowrie RFC Battle For Supremacy — newfanzoneblog
The CMB Building Maintenance & Inv co Ltd sponsored South West Rugby Union League took a more interesting turn as The Nigeria Police Rugby Club beat table toppers; Racing Rugby Club 10-0 holding off the challenge of Racing in the most anticipated match of the day. Despite the dominance of Police forwards in the scrum […]
via Police RFC Stuns Racing RFC As Cowrie Beats Gosar In SWRL Match Week 3 Fixture — newfanzoneblog
Following the 1 week break observed last week in the CMB Building and Investment Company ltd sponsored South West Rugby League, the league will resume with 3 matches to be decided at the main bowl of the National stadium Lagos. Royal Stallions of Ilorin will storm Lagos for their first game of the 2016 league […]
via Racing RFC Desperate To Extend Their 2016 Unbeaten League Run. — newfanzoneblog
Captain of Cowrie RFC of Lagos, Azeez Ladipo has apologized to their fans for the unexpected defeat the club suffered against Racing RFC in the week 2 match of the 2016 CMB Investment and Building Company sponsored South West Rugby league. Reacting after the loss, he philosophized that in the world of sports, nobody can […]
via Cowrie RFC Will Bounce Back – Azeez Ladipo — newfanzoneblog
It was business as usual at the main bowl of the National Stadium in Surulere on Saturday 23rd April 2016 as rugby lovers were entertained to an exiting spectacle of the game. Police RFC shot to 2nd spot on the CMB Building and Investment Company South West Rugby League table after a convincing win over […]
via Racing Destroy Cowrie RFC 7 Years Unbeaten Run — newfanzoneblog
The President of the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation, Sir Edward Pam Fom has lauded the members of the sporting press for their effort in promoting the sport in 2015 and wished them a bountiful 2016 which he predicts will be full of amazing surprises.
In his brief New Year message, Pam Fom described 2015 as a year that saw Rugby taking a big leap with the ever trusted support of the sport writers family.
He said “when you quantify the media mileage enjoyed by Rugby in 2015, you will see that the federation remains indebted to our highly esteemed media partners”.
“The gospel of Rugby was everywhere which has not only helped the federation’s course of seeing the sport rated amongst the top 5 federations in Nigeria.
The Plateau state born administrator pledged his unalloyed commitment to the development of rugby as he called on all stakeholders to come together in improving on the achievements recorded last year.
He thanked CMB Building Maintenance & Inv Co ltd. for standing behind the federation through thick and thin.
“The South West League would not have been possible neither will camping and traveling for our international competitions be possible” He also thanked Kelechi Mbagwu who has continuously and generously doled out funds to the federation through his company.”
He promised that 2016 will be bigger and better if early indications are anything to go by.
Cowrie Rugby Football Club Chairman, Kelechi Mbagwu described the 2014/2015 South West Rugby league champions as a ‘moving freight train whose momentum increases as it moves on’ considering the fact that they have been unbeaten in the 15’s series for 7 years while also acknowledging that other clubs have also stepped up their game.
Speaking after the last league game of the season between his club and perennial rival, Police RFC, he said “The standards was good and the players were extremely passionate” which gives him hope that the sport has come to stay in the country.
Kelechi Mbagwu whose company, CMB Building and Investment Company doubles as the national league and national team sponsors expressed his satisfaction saying the season ended the way he predicted despite seeing a lot of improvement judging by the fight Police RFC gave his team in the last game of the season.
Revealing the secret of his club’s success, he traced it to continuity, “We retained the players that won the 2013 title and adopted a scouting system which helped us inject youth into the team” he gave kudos to the coaching team of the club lead by Ofoha Joseph.
Star boy of Nigeria rugby, Christian Ogar was on Saturday voted as the most valuable player and he also emerged as the highest point scorer of the South West Rugby league sponsored by CMB Building and Investment Company at the final day of the league which was held at the main bowl of the National stadium, Lagos.
The national team player who plies his trade with Cowrie RFC of Lagos was consistent all through the season as he masterminded his team’s unbeaten run in the 2014/2015 rugby league with 36 tries, 1 try conversion and 3 penalty conversions recording a cumulative of 193 points.
Even though Cowrie RFC won the league before the league finals with accumulated points, the final against police was crucial in their quest to defend their 7 years 15’s unbeating run which was achieved with ease.
At the well-attended final league game sponsored by CMB Building and Inv. Co. Ltd, 3rd placed, Police RFC were awarded the fair play award despite losing to the champions, Cowrie RFC 22-0 in a match which could be described as fast and furious as both teams came out for the maximum points.
In the game which was characterised with mazy runs, pin point tackles and incisive passes, Sammy Ekpo bagged 2 tries while Dipo Olawale and Christian Ogar registered 1 try each and a conversion by Tunji Oduntan was all that was needed by Cowrie RFC to show their superiority against a very physical Police RFC side.
Meanwhile, in the first game of the day, spectators and invited guests were treated to a display of good game of rugby with both teams putting up a classy display, but the young and less experienced Royal Stallions of Ilorin side lost to Racing RFC 50-0, Racing RFC now claims the second spot on the league table and also a slot in the national playoff as the runners up of the South West Rugby Union League.
Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu the MD/CEO of the league sponsor CMB Building and Ind. Co. Ltd, and the Vice President/Technical Director of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Fasimoye Olatunji were present at the event for the award presentation.
The last round of matches of the 2014/2015 South West Rugby league season sponsored by CMB Building will take place on Saturday, 29th of August at the mainbowl of the Lagos National stadium, Lagos.
According to the fixtures, 2nd placed Racing RFC will be looking at grabbing the maximum point as to consolidate their position on the log and book a place at the national playoff when they take on Royal Stallions of Ilorin who have already secured their top flight status next season.
The main battle of the day will be against a motivated Cowrie RFC side against 3rd placed Police RFC who will be desperate to win and hope that Racing will slip up in the race for the 2nd place.
Speaking ahead of the match, head coach of Cowrie RFC, Joseph Ofoha says despite having already emerged as the league champions, a victory against Police will be an icing on an already sweet cake and an avenue to avenge their 2013 final loss to Police at the Independence Sevens tournament.
The organizers while revealing the last match day schedule also revealed that immediately after the last match, there will be a brief award ceremony where cash rewards will be presented to the League winner, Most Valuable Player of the league, highest point scorer and fairplay award for the deserving team.
Defending champion, Cowrie RFC needed just a draw to retain their title for the 4th consecutive year with Gosar RFC standing between them and the 2014/2015 South West Rugby league title, but it only took Sam Ekpo 14th minutes to register their intention as he evaded all opponents to open scoring with Azeez Ladipo converting the resulting kick to open a 7 point lead in the league sponsored by CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd.
Former national team captain who doubles as a player/coach for Gosar RFC scored a brilliant penalty kick from just a little way off the half way line in the 32nd minute to reduce the deficit to 4 point, Nigerian international, Onor Jato scored another try for Cowrie RFC with usual suspect Azeez Ladipo adding another 2 points to take the scores to 14 points to 3 heading into half time.
The second half was all about Nigeria Rugby speed sensation, Christian Ogar who scored 2 trys, ani Halilu and Afeez Ayinla also weighed in with a try each with Azeez Ladipo coverting 3 try conversions to ensure that the game ended 40 points to 3 in Cowrie RFC’s favor. The result sealed Cowrie RFC’s as 2014/2015 South West Rugby league champions.
In the 2nd match of the day between relegation threatened Eco II and Royal Stallions of Ilorin, the game started well as both sides settled down to play their individual patterns and it was Eco II who drew the 1st blood despite Royal Stallions dictating the play through Samson Okeowo who scored a try and registered the conversion to open up a 7 points lead for his team.
The lead never lasted for long with Royal Stallions bouncing back with a try of their own through Sunday Olawale and Ife Ibitaye converted the kick to tie the score, Samson Okeowo again scored a penalty kick for his team to give the relegation threatened Eco II a lifeline.
With little time to play in the 1st half, Samson Olawale registered his second try of the game.
Eco II’s relegation status from the CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd league was confirmed with just 6 minutes into the 2nd half, as Sunday Olawale registred his 3rd try to extended their lead to 17 points to 10 with their opponents struggling to find their bearing under the light rain.
A new record was set in the South West Rugby league in the 3rd game of the day between Police RFC and Racing RFC, the game ended 0-0, the match had so much at stake with both teams battling for 2nd spot and a place in the national final playoffs.
Despite the game turning out to be interesting and tough, both sides failed to make any try or penalty conversion in the tension soaked match, this result means Police RFC still occupies the 2nd spot and Racing in 3rd, heading into the last game of the league sponsored CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd
Similarly, on Saturday, Zaria RFC hosted the famous Lilliker tournament with 4 teams competing in the 1 day championship.
In the 1st game, host Zaria RFC defeated Sabon Gari RFC by 3nil to book their place in the finals while Barewa RFC made mince of Kaduna RFC by 7 unreplied points in the second game of the championship that has witnessed a lot of improvements regarding players’ attitude and officiating.
With most people tipping Zaria RFC to win this year’s tournament as the host, it was a different ball game as Barewa RFC defeated the host 3nil to emerge the 2015 champion in front of an impressive crowd and some board members of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
newfanzone 