August 06: CCFC 17 - Jungle Crows 5
August 06 Crows Reach Calcutta Cup Semi-final
August 06: Crows win Under 13's

July 06: Crows Make Bengal Rugby 7s Squad
July 06: Calcutta Cup begins

June 06: CCFC 39 - Crows 12
June 06: Crows 19 - LMOB 5
June 06: Kolkata Crows link with Royston Crows
June 06: Crows 34 - Army 5

March 06: Sagar Island Rugby Feast

February 06: Crows Fire at Sevens

January 06: New Year Big Start

November 05: Jungle Crows at India U-19 Camp
November 05: LSC Kolkata Rugby Tens

September 18,05: Crows v Kolkata Police in Chukka Match
September 05: SUMMIT support the Crows

August 05: Crows Lose Out in Centenary Cup Quarter Final
August 05: Crows on Tour in Delhi

July 05: Centenary Cup Round One Win
July 05: Under 19 Success in Monsoon Sevens
July 05: Jungle Crows 0 - Kolkata Police 22

June 05: Jungle Crows 17 - YRC 17
June 05: Jungle Crows 5 - LMOB 23

May 05: Crows Rugby Festival

April 05: Crows Appoint Coach

February 05: All India Sevens Chennai

October 04: On Tour In Orissa

CCFC 17 - Jungle Crows 5

Saturday 12 August '06:
A brave performance by the Jungle Crows was not enough to overcome the team coached by senior Kolkata Coach David Yah assisted with home turf advantage. Only 10-5 to the Reds of CCFC at half time and the Crows were always still in the game. Neither team had been able to call on its top 15 with this game delayed twice due to the monsoon rains. In the end the size and skill of the CCFC boys once again was too much for the Crows, but the Jungle Crows boys did go away thinking ..next time!

Crows reach Calcutta cup semifinal

Thursday 17 August '06:
Just four days after a tough clash with CCFC the Jungle Crows slugged it out in the monsoon mud to beat La Martiniere Old Boys (LMOB) 19-0.

Three days of rain meant conditions for the match were wet and muddy. LMOB with a bigger pack and a couple of imports from Ireland were clearly contemplating revenge from their defeat to the Crows in the Centenary Cup. But from the kick-off the Crows played a higher tempo game and although much smaller their better organised forwards were able to clear out the ball and maintain continuity and possession. Good tackling by hooker Ajay and prop Arijit were notable and meant the Jungle Crows regularly turned over LMOB possession . An early injury to inside centre Arran meant the Crows had to reorganise their back line and bring on Crow stalwart Christophe who set of at a cracking pace making some big hits. 20 minutes of back and forward battles were broken by a neat Crows back move that saw Tuna crash over for 5-0.

The second half started much as the first with the Crows dominant but the conditions making it difficult to break down a determined LMOB. After ten minutes though the Crows pack crashed over and through the mud and about ten players the referee Mukhtar signalled a try. Sanjay, Captain for the day in the absence of Zaffar nonchalantly toe poked the wet ball between the posts 12-0. The Crows now began to out run and tackle the tiring LMOB players, but it was still close stuff. A high kick over the Crows defence saw full-back Neil ground the ball for a 22 drop out. Sanjay called quickly for the ball and with all the players still reorganising he dropped the ball to the ground and hacked it up field, one more fly hack and he left it to Tudu to run through, scoop up the ball and score under the posts - MAGIC! Another toe poke and 19-0 the final score setting up a first semi final place for the Jungle Crows.

Crows win Under 13's

Sunday 20 August:
Kolkata's Monsoon Cup with 16 junior teams from schools and colleges around Kolkata competing for honours. Crows players made up 2 teams in both the under 13's and under 16's and played as Jungle Crows and Ashalayam respectively. The Jungle Crows under 13 team stunned all comers with a great victory. The Ashalayam under 16's almost pulled of a shock win just losing out to Future Hope in the final.

Crows Make Bengal Rugby 7s Squad

July 06:
Over the weekend of 15 & 16 July the Qualifying Tournament for Rugby 7's in the India National Games took place in Bangalore. Two Jungle Crows made it into the squad: Sailen Tudu and Zaffar Khan. In the end Zaffar Khan made it into the team to travel to Bangalore and managed to rack up several tries in an all star team that included players from Future Hope, Kolkata Police and CCFC. Bengal finished in the top 8 which means they have entry into the India National Games which are scheduled to take place in Guwahati, Assam in January '07.

Calcutta Cup begins

Wednesday 26 July '06:
The Crows were on top form in this evening clash with Kolkata Police Sergeants' Institute. The Crows for the first time in the season were able to call on their Armenian contingent and included three of the Armenian College boys in the starting 15; Medrik, Armen and Appel. From the first kick the Crows were at their finest, combining forwards and backs well and managing to work tries from both the forwards and backs.

Top try scorer for the evening was No.8 Jana with a total of 4 tries. With the score 33-0 at half time the Crows eased off slightly but never allowed the Sergeants' to get into their running. Too often the Sergeants' while under pressure resorted to kicking which sent the ball straight into Jungle Crow hands and set up yet another attack. With the score at 50-0 with only seconds on the clock the Sergeants' salvaged some pride taking a penalty kick from in front of the Crows posts. Last year we lost to the Sergeants' 12-0 and our former scribe Scrumcap savaged the boys under the headline "Where Have the Crows Gone?" 50-3 and the Jungle Crows had their biggest ever win and had made an excellent start to the 2007 Calcutta Cup competition.

CCFC 39 – Crows 12

Saturday 24 June '06:
Top performance by the Crows in the first half saw the score at Crows 7 - CCFC 10 with only minutes to go in the first half and a penalty within kicking range for Tudu. A sweet strike and the ball sailed over beautifully from a difficult position to the left of the posts..but immediate controversy when the ref did not allow the penalty. Straight into half time and the boys sadly allowed this to get to them (at the end of the game the referee explained that he adjudged one of the Crows players to be in front of the kick).

CCFC came out at 100% energy after half time having perhaps underestimated the Crows in the first half. Quick scores and the Crows were quicly on the back foot and though flanker Amar was able to go over for a try, the Crows had no answer for the CCFC strength and skill.

Crows 19 – LMOB 5

21 June 2006:
a six 'o' clock kick-off at CCFC and both teams were ready to challenge for the remaining place in the semi final of the Centenary Cup. The Crows knew LMOB would be tough opposition; experienced and clever with a little bit of gamesmanship thrown in for good measure. The starting 10-15 minutes saw the Crows absorbing lots of pressure, making strong tackles and driving back a series of LMOB attacks. As time went on the game began to even itself out with both teams making strong attacks but neither able to capitalise by scoring.

The Crows scrums and lineouts set a decent standard with which LMOB were only able to compete by pulling down in both the scrum and the maul. However, it was the Jungle Crows who were penalised early on for moving up too soon at lineouts, too many in the line out and a series of other minor infractions. But 0 - 0 after 30 minutes meant both teams felt they had the stronger chance - the game was still on. Then a rolling forward move up the left centre nicely completed by LMOB's speedy winger saw them cross the line and the Crows were down 5 - 0.

From the restart LMOB came forward quickly but the Crows tackling held strong and they quickly won back procession. The Crows ability to win back the ball as a result of tough tackles was a theme throughout the game. Then outside centre Zaffar received the ball about 10 metres inside the Crows half and set of on a high speed mazy run up the right side only five metres in from the line. Step inside once, step inside twice, big step outside and he charged around the full back on the inside to score under the posts..the Crows went wild, especially when Tudu converted to put the Jungle Crows up 7 - 5.

Only minutes left in the first half and LMOB captain stamped on one of the Crows defenders, the resultant penalty saw him loose his cool. The referee had put up with a stream of complaints and intimidation from LMOB and this time they had gone too far.yellow card and the skipper was out of it for 10 minutes. Half time!

The second half and the Jungle Crows came into their element with superior fitness and well drilled moves. The Crows scrum was working well against a pack possibly double their weight and winning their own and LMOB's scrum. Soon the LMOB flanker saw red and punched his Crow opposite number under the eyes of the ref, yellow card, 10 seconds of unfortunate reaction later, red card! Just as one LMOB player came back on another was taking a complete break from the game!

Clearly the LMOB boys were rattled and unable to compete with the Crows fitness and organisation. LMOB's attempts to disrupt the game had failed and there general lack of fitness now began to take its toll. Minutes later the Crows had a penalty five metres from the LMOB line a quick tap and scrum-half Tuna scored. The Crows were in the driving seat. Ten minutes to go and Fly Half Tudu made a scintillating jinking run from the LMOB 22 to round three players and score. The move was all the more impressive in view of the fact he had to take two steps back to receive the ball. A try to Tudu and also the conversion left him as the Crows top scorer with nine on the night.

Kolkata Crows link with Royston Crows

June 06:
We were delighted to hear from David Gee, Development and Marketing Manager of Royston RUFC in their interest in linking with the Jungle Crows. Royston is a town some 40 miles north of London in Hertfordshire on the borders of Cambridgeshire.

Historically, the town of Royston was known for its population of hooded crows so common that it became known as the 'Royston Crow'. In the English Civil War Cromwell's Roundheads derided the inhabitants after a brawl with the local Cavalier sympathizers and called them "Crows" and the name has remained. The local newspaper is known as the Royston Crow as well as the local football and hockey teams, but linking with us is Royston Rugby Union Football Club - the top Royston Crows!

Royston RUFC is a small and ambitious club that has an active rugby development programme. We hope that the two 'murders' of Crows: in the UK and Kolkata can work together to help one another, particularly in development - a priority for the Jungle Crows this year. We are not sure how this unique crows link will develop but we are delighted with the idea and hope to have some fun with our Royston namesakes over time! Check out the Royston Crows at www.roystonrugby.co.uk.

Crows 34 - Army 5

Sunday 18 June at 9.30 am, CCFC Ground:
Crows first fixture in the Centenary Cup, the Kolkata Season opener. This was the first time that the Army's Eastern Command had entered a team and we had no idea how strong a team they would be. The Army team looked fit and ready to put up a good fight, with five players imported from the Army's central rugby training centre at Ahmadnagar, near Pune.

The Crows had trained long and hard for this match and were out of the blocks quickly. From our kick off we quickly regained procession with our forwards staking early superiority, even though the Army were on average 2-3 inches taller than our boys. We won line out and scrum regularly using our well drilled and organized forwards to break through the Army lines, perhaps the first time the Jungle Crows have played a strong forward dominated game. The first try came after about ten minutes of good Army defending when the Crows were able to set up their left winger Sanjay Das to dive over the line. A great conversion from the left side of the field by Tudu gave the team a great boost.

Five minutes later and Crows No.8 Surendra crashed over for his first of three tries under the posts. A drop goal conversion from full back Sanjay Patro and the Crows were ahead 14-0 after 15 minutes. Half way through the first half and scrum half Tunu began to involve the backs more and more, resulting in the try of the match. 20 yards out Crows captain and outside centre Zaffar Khan received the ball, sidestepped past three players and scored next to the posts. This time the conversion didn't work. Throughout the first half the Crows demonstrated excellent ball retention not allowing the Army a chance to counter attack. Five minutes before the break Surendra crashed over supported by the forward pack, half time 24-0.

The half time talk focused on getting the job done and the danger from an Army side that were clearly fit and fast. Keeping the ball out of their possession would need to be a priority. From the kick off the Army had possession and began to run the ball, attacking the Crows with pace and aggression. With less that 10 minutes gone the Crows defence faltered and the Army scored a try in the corner, 24-5.

This was just what the Crows needed and though the 40+ heat and 100% humidity began to take its toll on all the players and officials, the Crows again began to dominate. After 15 and 20 minutes the Crows had two more tries on the scoreboard, the result of well organized and energetic forward moves, No. 8 Surendra and scrum half Tunu both getting on the score sheet.

The last ten minutes were fairly chaotic as the Crows made multiple substitutions and the referee began to suffer under the draining heat. As the whistle sounded all knew they had been through a tough tough match!

Sagar Island Rugby Feast

March 06:
25 March saw the Jungle Crows on the road, ferry and cycle van to reach the Gandhi City sports club for a most extraordinary and enjoyable tournament. Our Coach Sanjay has been coaching the boys of Sagar Island for about six months and this was their chance to put their skills to the test on their home turf. A mix of 23 Jungle Crows and Future Hope boys traveled to Sagar to make up three teams: Jungle Crows A & B and Future Hope.

Local Island Radio had been promoting the tournament in the days ahead and we surely had the largest crowds for rugby in Eastern India ever with 100s of local thronging the venue. The mornings play was made up of a series of round robin matches where every team got to play one another. All the games had an edge and the crowd really got involved and created a great rugby atmosphere. From the five teams taking part 4 were placed into semi finals: Jungle Crows A v Jungle Crows B and Future Hope v Sagar Island A.

So to the semis and two upsets!! In the first semi fancied Jungle Crows A led by coach Sanjay Patro went down 5-24 to the battling B team (incidentally wearing the Crows lucky green jerseys) led by Crows club captain Christophe. And even more dramatically in the second semi the Sagar Island boys played out of their skin to down Future Hope 17-19 (though not the proper superstar Future Hope team, still a team made up of much more experienced players).

So to the final and the Jungle Crows lifted their game and produced a very professional and determined performance to neutralize any threat from Sagar Island in the first half, going 19-0 up. One try a piece in the second half and the score reflected how well the Sagar boys had done, in reaching the final and losing by only 24-5.

The crowd eventually dispersed but this event is likely to be talked about for many years in the tea stalls of Gandhi City!

Crows Fire at Sevens

February 06:
The All-India Sevens took place in Chennai over the weekend of 11/12 February and the Jungle Crows were in their best form yet. Drawn in a group which included seeded team Mercantile Club of Sri Lanka the Crows managed to get of to a winning start beating Army C 5-0. We then had a lesson in sevens from eventual tournament winners Mercantile who knocked us down (but not out) 32-0. Our next match was a close encounter with Delhi Hurricanes in which we lost out 22-12. The Crows however picked themselves up to win their final group match against Chennai Irish 17-0.

We qualified for the plate with third place in our group. In the plate quarter finals we faced Bangalore Blackbucks and a strong performance saw the Crows run out 22-0 winners. Next was the plate semi-final and a tie against Delhi's premier team the Lions. In the end they could not be tamed and we lost out 22-0. Delhi went on to win the plate beating Kalinga 48-5. Kolkata's Future Hope won the bowl beating MEB of Bangalore 34-0 and Mercantile beat Chennai 34-0 in the main cup final. Read all about the tournament at top world rugby site scrum.com:
http://www.scrum.com/news/news_detail.asp?newsid=34599

This was a super performance from the Crows elevating us into the top 12 of Indian rugby and 'statistically' making us the top sevens team in Kolkata - Kolkata Police only made the quarter finals of the Plate and Future Hope the Bowl. Our top try scorer was Zaffar Hussain and Crow of the Series was scrum half Rohsin Xaxa - well done to them and all the boys who played so well for the Jungle Crows!

New Year Big Start

January 06:
The Jungle Crows have started training in full for the coming season, focusing in particular on sevens for the upcoming All-India Sevens in Chennai. Not only are we seeing good numbers at our training sessions - 20/30, we have also added to our coaching staff. Sukra Ekke - has joined the Crows as a Coach from January and will be working with Sanjay to boost our outreach efforts across Kolkata.

Jungle Crows in Under 19 Camp

November 2005:
Three Jungle Crows have been selected to take part in the current India Under 19 camp. The boys are Sailen Tudu (scrum half), Arijit Sarkar (prop) and Masudul Haque (Second Row). The camp is taking place at Kolkata's East Bengal ground and they are joining boys from all over India including Delhi, Chennai and Orissa. The three Jungle Crows selected were all part of the Jungle Crows team that reached the final in the Under-19 Monsoon Cup. The Camp is to prepare for the Under-19 tour to Pakistan in December.

LSC Kolkata Rugby Tens

November 2005:

The London School of Commerce Kolkata Rugby Tens took place over the weekend of 19/20 November at the East Bengal ground on Kolkata's Maidan. The Jungle Crows organised the tournament and players made up two full teams, we also had a scattering of players in other teams including the London School of Commerce. 12 teams in total took part with back to back rugby action over the entire weekend.

Pre-tournament favourites the Army surprised no-one with a display of hard running and solid skills. In the main final they ran out 35-12 winners against London School of Commerce. In the plate Armenian College won out against a tough side from Orissa 5-0. In the Bowl LMOB beat absolute rugby newcomers Sagar Island.

Sagar Island were the crowd favourites. The boys from Sagar Island have only been playing rugby for a couple of months under the leadership of Crows Coach Sanjay Patro as part of a Jungle Crows development programme. Sagar Island can be found at the end of the Hooghly River on the edge of the Bay of Bengal in the Sunderbans delta system. Special thanks go to Toyota who sponsored Sagar Island and made their participation possible.

London School of Commerce received a well deserved cheer at the end both for their generous support as title sponsors and putting on a fine display of expansive rugby. Other partners were Red FM and Cobra Beer.

Crows v Kolkata Police in Chukka Match

18 September 2005:

On 18 September the Jungle Crows took on Kolkata Police in a Chukka (friendly) match at the Bodyguard Lines, Alipore. The game kicked off at 4.00pm. This was a warm up match in advance of the Kolkata Police team traveling to the all-India finals in Mumbai.

The Crows enjoyed a good game and took the chance to give a number of new players a run out. The conditions were hot and muddy. Kolkata Police made the early break through and went up 10-0 with a couple of tries after 15-20 minutes. The Crows kept up a good level of work throughout the match and were unlucky with some decisions.

In the second half the Police put over a couple more tries but the Crows kept fighting and scored a consolation try towards the end. The game finished 20-5 to the Crows. Good warm-up for the Police and a great run out for the Crows.

Centenary Cup Match 2 - August 2005

17 August 2005:

Jungle Crows 0 v Police Sergeants' Institute 12

Where have the Crows gone?

Scrumcap

18 August 2005:

Wednesday 17th saw the Jungle Crows attempting to reach the semi-finals of the Centenary Cup in an afternoon clash against the Sergeants' Institute at CCFC. An unseasonably hot and humid afternoon saw a dire encounter with little for spectators or players to take away from the game...
more »

JUNGLE CROWS ON TOUR: The Callaghan Cup, New Delhi - August 2005

6 August:

Day 1 of the Cup, 4pm and the Crows are up against Delhi Lions. It was rumoured Delhi fancied their chances against the Crows but less than 10 minutes into the game and the Crows quick start had the Delhi boys floundering down 12-0. A strong run down the right side by Wilcko playing at No.8 with a nice offload to Medrick on the right wing saw the first try scored. Another followed minutes later when Zaffer broke through the Delhi back line to score by the posts. A conversion by Armen saw 12 points on the board and less than 10 minutes played.

There followed some scrappy play with the Crows foolishly sitting back on their lead and Delhi trying to re-organise. Some concerted Delhi pressure saw a try but order was quickly restored with another score, Wilcko running in this time. 19-5 at half time and it was looking good for the Crows.

Delhi came out quickest from the re-start and had another score on the board in minutes. But again the Crows were able to counter with Medrick touching down. Delhi came back and though the Crows were able to absorb plenty of pressure on the line, Delhi's two Argentinian players were too big to hold at bay for long and one crashed over for a try. Missed tackles by the Crows in their own half had led to the three Delhi tries and though it was great to see how much pressure could be absorbed on the line it was all self inflicted!

10 minutes to play and scrum-half Tudu was replaced by experienced Crows Coach Sanjay who injected some real zip into the game. A quick lineout on Delhi's five yard line saw the ball cross the line but the referee called play back. Another good Crows line-out and Sanjay ran of the drive and over the line for the final score, Crows 29 Delhi 15.

Sanjay took a head over heels tumble as he crossed the line and collided with a Delhi boot, a gash in his head would later require four stitches. This was to highlight to the Crows the appalling arrangements (we already knew they were pretty bad: no running water, sleeping on the floor, wiggly lines, no flags on the pitch, no match ball, etc) but the reaction of the medic and ref to Sanjay's injury was a disgrace. He'd taken a bad fall and clearly had a head injury and other possible injuries, he had been mildly concussed and his breathing was erratic. The medic on reaching Sanjay, seemingly against any sensible practice lifted up his head! The ref ordered the players to get him of the pitch so the game could carry on - without even checking on the injury! Needless to say both the ref and the medic were given short shrift! Fortunately Sanjay wasn't badly hurt but a formal complaint will be going to the IRFU.

A good first victory and with Sanjay stitched up and well the Crows were in good spirits for their next game against top seeded side Bangalore. First though since this was the first time most of the boys had been to New Delhi we spent Sunday on a sightseeing and shopping trip!

8 August:

Day 3 of the Cup and the Crows faced possibly the toughest game in their short history up against Bangalore. With Brits at No8, Scrum half and inside center and with French and Fijian Flankers this was going to be quite a challenge!

The Crows got of to a slower start and within five minutes were down by a Bangalore try 5-0. But a penalty kept the Crows in the game 5-3. The Crows held Bangalore well but another 2 tries and conversion saw the boys go down 17-3. At this the Crows heads dropped (something we'll need to work on) and Bangalore turned on the pace and style for the last ten minutes of the half. With the Bangalore backs running freely, well supported by a quick pack the Crows game deserted them and Bangalore ran in three converted tries 38-3 at half time!

A strong team talk delivered by Wilcko at half time and the Crows stormed into the second half. Resolute defending by Bangalore held the raging Crows at bay but only a break away try and conversion from Bangalore bothered the scorers. In the end the Crows rotated their team to ensure everyone got the chance to play in this the Crows first 15-a-side tour! Defeated they may have been but their enthusiasm and pride got the loudest cheer as the Crows players came of!

The Callaghan Cup doubled up this year as the qualifying tournament for the all-India finals due to be played in Mumbai at the end of September. Making this the second most prestigious tournament in the country. The playing and ancillary facilities were terrible. The benefit of being knocked out, as many remaining teams said to us, was that we got to leave and go home!!

Arijit the Crows softly spoken Prop was named Crow of the Tour for a 100% solid performance and some excellent tackles.

Starting Line-Up
1. Azad
2. Vahe
3. Arijit
4. Masud
5. Amar
6. Christophe (Capt.)
7. Ejme
8. James (Wilcko)
9. Tudu
10. Armen M
11. Ricardo
12. Ananda
13. Zafar
14. Medric
15. Armen A
    
    Squad
16. Sanjay P
17. Dilip
18. Aden
19. Humayun
20. Sanjay D
21. Pankaj
22. Jacob
23. Paul

Centenary Cup Round One Win - July 2005

The Jungle Crows in their first centenary cup fixture beat LMOB 8-7. This was the jungle crows first competition fifteen-a-side victory in this their first season. The crows lead early on with a penalty kicked by Armen and kept this lead until half-time. Early in the second half a try by Zaffar (Crow of the Match) saw the crows into an 8-0 lead. A late try and conversion by LMOB was not enough and the crows held on to a deserved victory. There was quite a party afterwards! Read a full match report at Scrumcap.

Under 19 Success in Monsoon Sevens

Kolkata Jungle Crows under-19 team perform brilliantly in Kolkata "Monsoon Sevens" tournament. Win four games on the run to reach the final. Showdown with top Kolkata side Future Hope sees them eventually loose out 32-7.

Jungle Crows players make up the bowl winners: Ashalayam Don Bosco and the semi finalists: Armenian College. The future looks very bright for the crows! TV coverage focuses on Kolkata's newest and fastest growing team - the Jungle Crows. Kolkata Police Commissioner Prosun Mukherjee pays special compliment to the crows on the phenomenal rise of the team and the spirit they always show.

Calcutta Cup Results

4 June 05:

Jungle Crows 17 - YRC 17
[Check-Out the Scrumcap]

18 June 05:

Jungle Crows 5 - LMOB 23
The Jungle Crows had their toughest encounter yet on Saturday taking on the experience and guile of LMOB! A 3.30pm kick-off on one of the hottest days this year, +40 degrees, did not stop both teams playing high energy 100% determined rugby. In the end what separated the teams was the class and experience of LMOB. In only their second ever 15-a-side game the Crows, however, battled valiantly.

LMOB were ably led by former Indian international Tony McCluskie, playing at number 8 he set out LMOBs game plan early with a string of strong forward moves. Whether from a driving maul, scrum or ruck LMOBs discipline and experience had the Crows on their heels more than once. But it was the Crows who had the first scoring chance with a penalty inside LMOBs half after less than 10 minutes, missed short by Crows scrum half and captain 'Tuna'. The first points on the board came from a penalty kicked by LMOB to give them an early 3 point boost. Two tries for LMOB followed, set up and scored with good quality forward play. Just before half time the Crows sent a kick into LMOBs corner and the pace and reactions of Crows inside centre Armen M meant that the team went into half time only 13-5 down.

The start of the second half saw the Crows attempting to get their back line more into the game but good defence by LMOB held them at bay. It wasn't long before LMOB got back into their stride and began to put big shoves into the scrum, clattering the less weighty Jungle Crows aside. The heat began to tell on both sides but LMOBs forwards kept up good pressure and eventually drove over both in the left and right hand corners to pick up tries. At the end of the game both teams knew they had been through a tough tough game (only let down by the refereeing about which less is said the better)!

6 July 05:

Jungle Crows 0 - Kolkata Police 22

[Check-Out the Scrumcap]


Crows Rugby Festival - May 2005

We had an amazing days rugby on 14 May to say farewell to Jungle Crows stalwart John Hamilton...8 under-14 teams played tag and 4 teams played senior rugby 10s....over 150 players in all! The school teams included Future Hope, Ashalayam Don Bosco, Frank Anthony's, St Joseph's, Armenian College and St Thomas'.

The four adult teams were pick-up teams from all the players that registered, mainly Jungle Crows but also some from Future Hope, Kolkata Police and CCFC. The captains for the day were John Hamilton in charge of the "Scots Crusdaers", Christophe Plais with his "French Fire", Gary Stilgoe policing the "English Bulls" and Sanjay Patro calling the shots with "India Cyclone". So our very own four nations tournament! The final was between Crusdaders and Cyclone with a tie at 5 all after full and extra time. In the end the game was decided on drop goals, best of three and then sudden death. The Cyclone came out winners 7 drop goals to 6!!

Crows appoint Coach - April 2005

Sanjay Patro will be the Jungle Crows coach for the 2005 season. Sanjay works as a Development Officer with Bengal Rugby-Football and is a regular player for Future Hope. Sanjay has started his work and brought a new professionalism to the Jungle Crows work.

Sanjay also has significant development experience and we hope he will be able to bring this to bear in his work with the Jungle Crows. All the Jungle Crows are looking forward to a successful first full season under the leadership of Sanjay.

All India Sevens in Chennai - February 2005

The Jungle Crows latest tour took them to the All-India Sevens in Chennai this February. The majority of the team traveled down on a 24 hour train journey.showing a true spirit of dedication to the Jungle Crows spirit! The Crows were drawn in the toughest group in the tournament with just two other teams both of whom were expected to do well; Bombay Gymkhana and Tamil Nadu Police A.

The crows faced both teams on the opening day and were comprehensively beaten, but the spirit and fight shown by the Crows won them yet more supporters from the crowd in Chennai. On day two the Crows were drawn in the bowl quarter finals against Delhi Cobras. The Cobras opened the scoring with a converted try - 7 points. The Crows fought back with their own try, not converted; so 5 points. As the seconds ticked away the crows scrapped and battled for a breakthrough but with only seconds left the more experienced Cobras snuck a final energy-sapping try from the Crows, the match ending 12-5 to Delhi.

The Crows had repaid their supporters and sponsors BOC, ABN Amro and Descon; not in trophies but in pride and spirit, perhaps commodities even more valuable!

The all-India final pitted local teams Chennai Cheetahs against the Tamil Nadu Police. This was what the crowd had been waiting for; two strong teams playing over an extended time of two ten minute half's. The Chennai Cheetah's are the reigning India fifteen-a-side champions and showed their class from the start pulling in front and staying there to record a 22-14 win.

On Tour in Orissa - October 2004

The Crows first out of state tournament was to Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Supported by sponsors Crown Relocation and Skytech Software the Jungle Crows were able to record their first out of state win.

The Jungle Crows were matched in a group that included Future Hope, Kolkata Police, Delhi and Haryana. A tough opening game against Delhi saw the Jungle Crows just beaten but the highlights of the tour were quick to come. Playing against Kolkata Police under floodlights at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack was memorable for all involved. With few supporters around the atmosphere was more eerie than big match. But the chance to play in a huge and renowned stadium was unforgettable for all the players! Top side Kolkata Police soundly beat the Crows.

The next day still on a high the Crows made a slow start against Haryana but soon found their stride and were able to post a win, helped by new Crows Ramesh and the try scorer James! Bhubaneswar had never seen sporting celebrations like it as the Jungle Crows, their supporters and even the losing side celebrated the win.

Future Hope went on to win the tournament coming back from behind in a thrilling game to beat Maharastra State Police.