Middlesex Rugby
Middlesex Cup Final
London Nigerian 14 v Ealing 21
Lyndon Walters reports
Superb pre-match hospitality, a dry, flat pitch, a sunny day, and a large crowd could only mean one thing: champagne rugby. Not quite. Ealing, clearly with two eyes on their play-off game on the 28th, sent out a young side who belying their youthfulness played a composed, controlled and clinical game to win the Middlesex Cup for the fourth year running. Perhaps the sun having disappeared by kick off sapped the expected free-running from London Nigerian. In truth it was simply that they lacked the vital spark to break through a stifling Ealing defence either close in or out wide. Ealing thoroughly deserved their win.
The pattern to some extent was set from the outset. Ealing forwards keeping it tight, making short yards and keeping LN on the back foot. After 3 minutes LN transgress and Pat McCarthy gives Ealing a 3 point lead. Little change thereafter save for an outside break by the outstanding Ealing full back, Regardt Boonzaaier, which almost brought the first try. Undaunted LN pressed and after 10 mins got themselves back into the game with a penalty from their 10, Richard Small. Against the run of play could have gone ahead but Small missed a long range penalty.
The decisive period of the game came in the 10 minutes before half time. First, from a quickly taken Ealing line out LN infringed and McCarthy kicked another penalty; next Ealing turned over ball in midfield and slick interplay/offloading from the backs put Joe Hardy over in the corner; the conversion was missed but there was now clear daylight at 11-3; finally, the Ealing forwards got in on the act; penalty kicked to the corner and a training-field-catch-and-drive later they were 18-3 up – Dave Pack try and Pat McCarthy conversion.
Against the slight breeze Ealing had controlled affairs and the scoreline reflected their superiority. The second half was a strange affair. London Nigerian, as expected, raised their game but never really threatened to turn the match around. Their attempts to spread the ball wide came to nought and the crash ball again made no ground. They did score an excellent try in the 48th minute when from a turnover they swiftly moved the ball to Wole Olufunwa on the narrow side who powered over in the corner from 40mts. But the gap was soon extended when having turned over an attacking Ealing lineout they conceded a penalty which Pat McCarthy easily converted. 21-8.
Although LN managed two further penalties to reduce the deficit to 21-14 by the 70th minute, they never again threatened the Ealing line. Ealing for their part stuck to their very effective game plan, which on the day was always going to be enough. The last 10 minutes were notable for the Ealing substitute prop dropping a LN drive and being binned having been on the field all of 15 secs (never to return) – well worth a winners tie!; and LN mic men urging their team on through a series of raps and chants. All very entertaining but to no avail. The match ended much as it had begun: an Ealing catch and drive at the line out, LN infringing – Ealing in control.
Thanks to the officials: David Sainsbury, referee, and his touch judges Richard Kelly and Gary Marchant and 4th official John Coates.
Above all a massive thank you to LN RFC for making it the showpiece event the Final deserved. A great time was had by all.”
The teams:
London Nigerian: Osahon Omokhodion, Osondu Anodu, James Siu, Hisham El-Marazki, Neal Fetterman, Chima Ijeoma, Junior Harrison, Chris Macdonald, Maynard Ahukanna, Ernest Hanson, Ritchie Ross-Forrester, Ed Clark, Richard Small, Mark Ho, Jemi Akin-Olugbadin, Aliyu Shelleng, Wole Olufunwa, Ibi Shelleng, Chi-Chi Obuaya, Ugo Ekeowa, Winston Bell-Gam.
Ealing: Danny Walsh, Gordon Pochop, Mandeep Tahim, Dave Pack, Stuart Miller, Eugene Du Toit, Corne Du Rand, Dan Palmer, Andrew Price, Gregg Tindall, Johannes Botha, Karl Gibson, Pat McCarthy, Olly Miller, Andy Jack, Shane Brady, Kurt Ludeke, Adam Hulmston, Joe Hardy, Elton Jones, Regardt Boonzaaier
