Huge contributions from Paypon and Ogley win many plaudits

The Zephyr Communications PRFU 15’s League got underway at the Nomad Sports Club May 14 and early markers were put down in their respective divisions by the Alabang Ibons and Nomads.

In the B division match-up, both teams were brimming with youthful promise. The major and telling difference, which was reflected in the one sided score line, was experience. Both  the Paypon brothers have represented the national under 20’s in the last two seasons and the lessons learned at that level allowed them to dominate the game. MAAP, not to put too fine a point on it, were chasing shadows as Jovic and elder brother Jeepy attacked relentlessly throughout the entire game.

With no obvious leader and a complete lack of defensive structure, MAAP were sliced open time and again and one had to feel for veteran referee Jay Savage in his valiant attempts to track to the weaving runs of the Ibon’s three-quarters.

Noteworthy contributions were made by Jared Harrison, who bagged three tries, Buboy Biazon,Jr. with two and the visiting Cebu scrum-half Jerry Branzuela, playing in the dark environs of the front row, who chipped in with a popular brace.

The second match, in the A Division, was a more traditional hard-fought encounter. The first twenty minutes were scoreless as the younger Eagles pack stood up well to their experienced counterparts. The Nomads team has undergone a much needed make-over in recent times. On twenty minutes powerful wing Kevin Ogley touched down for the first individual try. He clearly had the measure of his opposite number and within five minutes had bagged number two.  One conversion and a penalty from outside half Danny Williams, meant the score line at the interval stood at 15-0.

It was the Eagles who shot out of the blocks in the second half, with speedster Billy Lionel scoring a try, converted by David Carman.  Any thoughts of a comeback were soon extinguished as Nomads then hit a purple patch for twenty minutes, during which Ogley added two more tries, the first of which was a fine individual effort and showcased his full range of skills, with the ball in hand and with the boot. Aaron Briddon coming off the back of national trials and the evergreen Nigel Barrett added two more and the game, with the scoreboard showing 39-7, was almost done.

The Eagles have great character as a team and their never-say-die attitude resulted in them narrowing the gap in the last ten minutes to a very respectable 39-26. The first try by Timothy Bweheni was absolute class.  Electrifying pace and a monster handoff, which catapulted Nomads fullback Bruno Vergnes backwards, saw him cover seventy five metres for the touchdown. He must surely be in the minds of the national coaching staff come Sevens season.

The equally quick Rimex Davai then ran in two tries in the dying minutes as Nomads dug deep to protect a win, which although no walk in the park, was well deserved, on the balance of play over eighty minutes. Kevin Ogley’s superb contribution to the Nomad’s cause earned him the Hardy’s man of the match award.

Both teams will now face the Hapons / Carabaos All Stars in the coming weeks, but don’t bet against these two teams clashing again in next month’s final.

Phil Gittus