TABARD 14 London Nigerians 39
– London 2 North
Tabard’s
long season came to an end on Saturday with yet another defeat, this time by
London Nigerians, by 39 points to 14.
With both
sides being relegated for next season the game was probably not going to
sparkle but in the event both sides had some good tries but the London
Nigerians threequarters were much more penetrative than Tabard and this
proved to be the undoing of the home side.
Nigerians
quickly opened the scoring with a penalty from stand off Small and then their
centre Wole carved through the Tabard defence to give
Nigerians their first try and an eight points to nil lead. The game then
settled down to a fairly even affair with the Tabard forwards
performing with distinction in the tight scrums but Nigerians made better use
of less possession and their next try was set up by Small coming through the centre and feeding
centre Shelleng for the try.
Tabard then
got one back when
centre Richard Woodard intercepted close to his own line and ran virtually the
length of the pitch before passing to wing, Dan Ashcroft, in support, for the
try which stand off Reilly converted.
Unfortunately, deep in first half injury time, Nigerians centre Wole went over again and the sides turned round with Tabard
20 points to 7 adrift.
The second
half followed much
the same pattern as the first with Tabard winning good ball but failing to
capitalise and Nigerians using their three quarters to good effect in the ideal running
conditions. Thus Nigerians went further
ahead with another try from Wole, followed by one
from Shelleng again and then finally second row Obikwe
completed their scoring.
Tabard
still had some fight however and centre Michael Thomas ran a short penalty
through the defence before feeding Woodard for the score which Reilly converted. Tabard then had further chances with Thomas
making another scintillating break but just getting caught and fullback Daniel Nansoz just missing out after a kick and chase but there were no further scores and Tabard’s
season ended on a low note.
Tabard have
now gone from National league rugby back to the league they
started in 1987 in the space of
four years. With rugby now a
professional sport and Tabard devoid of any major sponsors the next few seasons
are going to be
tough indeed for the Radlett based side.
Team: Fleuren (Nansoz 60m), Beadle, Thomas, Woodard, Ashcroft, Reilly, Karstel, Wilkinson, Baker, Long, O’Connor, Crocker, Troyer,
Stoba and O’Connell.