STAY OFF RUGBY TROPHY SAYS COWRIE RFC

The much anticipated “Friends of Rugby” organized 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League program kicked off in grand style on Saturday 12 May 2012 at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos amidst jubilations by rugby players & fans alike.

Cowrie Rugby Football Club who are the defending champions have given a stain warning to all comers in the Lagos Rugby Union League, that “There is no vacancy in the League title!” They made this abundant clear to all on Saturday afternoon when they dismissed an earlier scare from new comers Ilorin Rugby Football Club who opened scoring in their star match of the day, but were eventually roundly defeated by 43 points to 14 points in the last match of the day at 4 pm to secure 6 maximum points to their credit.

They have also threatened all clubs in the league that they will maintain their 100% unbeaten record which they secured in the last League Season!

According to the spokesperson of the Rugby League popularly called “Mr. Rugby” Ntiense Williams, “We are highly delighted with the successful kick-off of the 2012 “Friends of Rugby” Lagos Rugby Union League program, amidst pomp & pageantry at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos on over the weekend. It was a huge celebration by the players who have being yearning for the rugby league to resume.” Said he, “We are indeed very grateful to our main sponsor CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited and other sponsors who have kept faith with us and have continued to be identified virtually with all our programs of activities for the year!”

Said Williams, “The 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League kicked off weeks ago with Lagos Rugby Football Club defeating Young Lions Rugby Football Club by 27 points to nil, in the opener of the day at 1pm, while the Police Rugby Football Club dismissed Gosar Rugby Football Club by 8 points to nil in the second encounter at the same venue.

Players could not hide their feelings after internal problems prevented the league from resuming early this year. While first timers Ilorin RFC are trying to find their feet, Cowrie Rugby Football Club says they will do all they can to defend the title that gave them the bragging rights for over a year.

Highlights of last weekend games will be up shortly.

Lagos Friends of Rugby 2012

Police vows to arrest Lagos Rugby Club

The 2012 lagos rugby league bankrolled by “Friends of Rugby” and started a forth night and rugby football teams are already talking tough with defending champions Cowrie Rugby football club toping the chart after one game played.

This weekend, the teams that lost their first games will hope to perform above expectations to appease their fans and those leading will hope to consolidate their grip of their spot or aim higher.

Young Lions Rugby FC will trade tackles with Ilorin Rugby FC at 12noon, to be followed by second placed Lagos Rugby FC facing the third spot Police Rugby Football Club at 2pm, while defending champions Cowrie Rugby FC will lock horns with Gosar Rugby FC at 4pm in the last match of the day.

RUGBY LEAGUE TABLE

At the end of the first league matches, defending champions Cowrie Rugby Football Club & Lagos Rugby Football Club are tied on top of the table with 6 points each, but Cowrie RFC has a superior points deference of 29, while Lagos rugby Football Club has 27 points, Police Rugby FC is in 3rd position with 8 points, while the trio of Gosar, Yong Lions & new comers Ilorin RFC are in 4th, 5th & 6th position respectively.

· TABLE

· TEAMS        P   W   D   L   PF   PA   PD   PTS

· COWRIE     1     1    -    -    43    14     29      6

· LAGOS        1     1    -    -    27     0      27      6

· POLICE       1     1    -    -    08     0      08      5

· GOSAR       1      -    -    -     0       8    (-08)    -

· Y. LIONS     1      -    -    -     0      27   (-27)    -

· ILORIN         1     -    -    -     14    43   (-29)    -

HIGHEST POINTS SCORER

A total of 92 points was scored in the 1st week matches of the ongoing 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League program played two weekends ago.

In first & second position are Lagos Rugby Football Clubs Coker Morakinyo & Tunji Odutan of Cowrie RFC, who are tied with 10 points each, while Akpam of Lagos RFC is in 3rd position with 7 points, while Azeez Ladipo of Cowrie RFC is in 4th position with 6 points. 13 other players have also recorded 5 points and below on the 2012 Lagos Rugby Union League top scorers chart.

HIGHEST POINTS SCORER TABLE

NAMES - CLUB - POINTS

1. COKER MORAKINYO – LAGOS = 10 POINTS

2. TUNJI ODUTAN - COWRIE = 10 POINTS

3. AKPAM – LAGOS = 7 POINTS

4. AZEEZ LADIPO - COWRIE = 6 POINTS

5. OLA MUYIWA - POLICE = 5 POINTS

6. JOHN SILVERNUS – COWRIE = 5 POINTS

7. WASIU AYANGBEMI – COWRIE = 5 POINTS

8. ADEBOMBO ADEREMI – COWRIE = 5 POINTS

9. SIMON JOSEPH – COWRIE = 5 POINTS

10. FRANK ADEDEJI - COWRIE = 5 POINTS

11. STEPHEN ADEYEMI – ILORIN = 5 POINTS

12. IFEOLUWA IBITOYE – ILORIN = 5 POINTS

13. AKIN BIODUN – LAGOS = 5 POINTS

14. TALEEB ADEYEMI – LAGOS = 5 POINTS

15. LANRE - ILORIN = 4 POINTS

16. SULAIMON OYEBOLA - POLICE = 3 POINTS

17. CLEMENT DENIS - COWRIE = 2 POINTS

HIGHEST TRY SCORER

Meanwhile Cowrie Rugby FC Odutan Tunji & Lagos RFC’s Coker Morakinyo are leading the Highest Try Scorer table with two Trys each. 13 other players have also scored 1 try each on the first League matches.

HIGHEST TRY SCORER TABLE

NAMES - CLUB - TRYS

1. COKER MORAKINYO – LAGOS = 2 POINTS

2. TUNJI ODUTAN - COWRIE = 2 POINTS

3. OLA MUYIWA - POLICE = 1POINTS

4. JOHN SILVERNUS – COWRIE = 1POINTS

5. WASIU AYANGBEMI – COWRIE = 1 POINTS

6. ADEBOMBO ADEREMI – COWRIE = 1 POINTS

7. SIMON JOSEPH – COWRIE = 1 POINTS

8. FRANK ADEDEJI - COWRIE = 1 POINTS

9. STEPHEN ADEYEMI – ILORIN = 1 POINTS

10. IFEOLUWA IBITOYE – ILORIN = 1 POINTS

11. AKIN BIODUN – LAGOS = 1 POINTS

12. TALEEB ADEYEMI – LAGOS = 1 POINTS

13. AKPAM – LAGOS = 1 POINTS

The ongoing "Friends of Rugby" organised Lagos Rugby Union League matches comes up on Saturday 26 May 2012 at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos from 12 noon to 6pm with three matches on the cards.

My Take: I think Cowrie will successfully defend the title this year if they improve on last season’s performance.

And I hope debutant - Ilorin Rugby club will not end up being a training material for all the other teams. What were they doing losing to such a high margin?, well they played against the defending champion, Cowrie RFC.

Anyways, did I say that Cowrie RFC was in South Africa for winning the league last season? well, that story is for another day.

Story by

Ntiense O. Williams

a.k.a Mr. Rugby

Falcons will fly over Zimbabwe - Ikhana

Report by Ahmadu Samuel Oluwagbemi

The Head Coach, National Women team nicknamed Super Flacons, Kadiri Ikhana has revealed his side is well-prepared for the Sunday cracker against Zimbabwe at Harare in the 2012 Africa Women Championship qualifier.

The Super Falcons handler has confidently disclosed hours from unveil his team for the 2012 AFW qualifying fixture against Zimbabwe that his side will be all out on Sunday at Harare for victory with high expectations to make Nigerians proud.

“We are readily prepared for the Zimbabwe game and the players are in brilliant shape to execute the game and quite sure they will make Nigerians proud.”

The female handler further said that; “On the possible players to make the 22-man list for the Zimbabwe match, we will be having a mix of the homebased and foreign players in the list to execute the Sunday game after which the foreign players will return to their clubs leaving the Africa based Nigeria women players to face the Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the June 3^rd friendly.’

Ikhana, is with a strong believes that the outcome of the Sunday’s game will go a long way to convince his critics and soccer-loving Nigerians on his building plans for a resilient, disciplined and strong national women team.

With a history of perfect choice of coach with integrity, technical approach to aid Nigeria make great impact at the international level, the former Nigeria’s Green Eagles right back’s experience seems to be the right choice for the national women's team as he rally to involve many local based players trapped in some of the league clubs to assist his building plans and quality National women team set-up.

Responding to growing rumours over the approval of Teslim Balogun stadium by Nigeria Football Federation for the June 16 second leg against Zimbabwe, Ikhana disclosed that he is unaware of the development stressing that the reports could be a speculations as he is yet to meet the his employers over where the return leg match will be played.

Kadiri Ikhana is a former coach of BCC Lions, Kwara United F.C., Sunshine Stars F.C., Kano Pillars, Sharks F.C. and notably Enyimba F.C’s CAF Champions League title winning handler.