| Epixtar Nomads win Inaugural SMART-PRFU Cup |
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| Written by PRFU | |
| Monday, 20 December 2004 | |
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The Philippines Rugby Football Union (PRFU) has been strongly promoting Rugby Union Football in this country and now its efforts are bearing fruit. The finals of the first ever PRFU 15-A-Side Rugby League sponsored by SMART took place on Saturday 06 November 2004 at Nomads Sports Club, Madrid St, Merville Park Subdivision, Paranaque. It was a major rugby extravaganza starting with Junior Rugby at 1:00pm and over 50 kids from the ages of 5 – 14 turned up from Brent School, British School, Nomads and the European International School (formerly Eurocampus). We had 6 teams of kids for 7-a-side and lots of subs. Each team played 2 games and the joint winners of 2 games each were the Eurocampus and the combined side Nomads/British School A. They will have a playoff on December 11. In the SMART sponsored PRFU League there was a great Plate Final between the Kokomos Chiefs and the Total Warriors. The Chiefs have been the underdogs all through the league – mainly because they are the newest team in the country. But a hard fought game saw the Kokomos Chiefs beat the Total Warriors 25-19. After the Plate Final there was the main event, the Cup Final between arch-rivals, Epixtar Nomads and Siemens Eagles at 4:00pm. This was another nail biter with League Champions Epixtar Nomads going on the park as the favorites but knowing it would not be a walkover. Siemens Eagles, true to expectations, played with a strong spirit and a determination to win and going into the 3rd quarter it was 18-13 to Epixtar Nomads. So only one score in it. Finally, in the last quarter Epixtar Nomads used the strength of their forwards to win the ball and run it straight down the back line to the Full Back, Rex Riri (from PNG) and to the stunningly fast Winger, Evans Maina (from Kenya). These simple, time-honored tactics and speed secured Evans a hat trick in the space of about 15 minutes. The final score was 35-13 in favor of Epixtar Nomads, making them Cup Champions as well as League Champions. In the evening there was a Prize Giving and Celebration Party. For all the players, sponsors and guests. Chiefs Captain Murray “Muzza” Domb was ecstatic with a big smile from ear to ear all night. Epixtar Nomads Captain, Australian Chris Hartley could not have been happier as took his two prizes – for the PRFU SMART League Champion and the PRFU SMART Cup Champion - and coined a new name for his team, the “NOMADS RUGBY MACHINE”. All the players got medals and there were trophies for various special awards. The Leading Points Scorer was Bruno Vergnes of Nomads who just pipped Sam Martin of the Eagles by one point. But Sam was next up as Leading Try Scorer, which he shares with Evans Maina of Nomads, both with 15 tries. The Best and Fairest Player of the whole League and Finals was another close call but Sam Martin came out on top, just beating Max “Chicken” Stewart of Nomads. And the trophy for the most Promising Young Player was taken by Marlon Madrazo of Siemens Eagles. Another big FIRST was the selection of the Philippines National Rugby Team. In all 50 names were announced, 25 for the Senior Squad and 25 for the Development Team. Trials games will be held in the coming weeks and all the players are looking forward to this in the hope that they get selected to play for the country. The first game for them will be on 11 December against a Philippines “Barbarians” Select side chosen from the players not eligible to play for the Philippines Squad. Then they will be playing their first international tournament on 16 March in Hong Kong at the Kowloon RugbyFest 10s. Coming in January 2005 will be the launching of PRFU Junior Rugby Development Program to be sponsored by Jones Lang Lasalle, one of the top international property management companies based here in the Philippines. We will keep you informed as details of this exciting activity are firmed up. But rest assured, your kids will love it! Also in January through to the end of February the PRFU will run a 10-A-Side league with 6 teams in it to prepare the players for the Alabang 10’s on 26 February and the International Manila 10’s at Nomads on 11-13 March. ANZCHAM is already starting to plan the second International Rugby Luncheon following the huge success of the inaugural one in March this year as the start up to the 2004 Manila 10’s The British Chamber of Commerce is following through with its commitments to buy a significant number of Rugby balls to assist in development of the sport in Filipino schools. These will be given to the Philippine Rugby Union and to Alan McConnell, UK trained professional rugby coach now residing in the Philippines, who has been Coaching the Epixtar Nomads, Don Bosco College, Montessori School and the Philippine Airforce detachment in Clark Airbase. There is an extensive program of senior level and development games, coaching and tournaments up until May/June 2005: 1. Nov 27 – Game of Phils Natl. Squad - at Clark Airbase |