Over 150 people witnessed an historic rugby match at the Esentepe Football Stadium on Saturday. The Pumas played hosts to the Limassol Crusaders, heralding the first game between North and South since the island was divided in 1974. Although games have been played against UK Services sides in the past, this was the first game against a club side based in the south.

“It was a privilege to be the first southern sports team to play in the north for over 40 years and an even bigger pleasure that it was rugby that broke that barrier,” said Fraser Nelson, Captain and Committee member of the Limassol Crusaders. “The game was not an easy one to arrange or for some people to take part in, but all that did travel fully enjoyed themselves and are proud of the occasion"
The teams seemed very evenly matched for the first 30 minutes of the game, with neither side managing to score. However, the Limassol Crusaders pulled three points ahead with a penalty, followed by a try due to a missed tackle by the home team and conversion just before half time, making it 10-0 to the visiting side.

During the second half a number of substitutions were made for the home team and a lack of experience from new members of the Pumas gave the Crusaders the upper hand, scoring a further 18 points before the final whistle.“The final score of 28-0 to the Crusaders did not reflect the true game,” said Steve Knight, Pumas Team Manager. “The Pumas’ forwards had a good game for the first 30 minutes, but their lack of fitness took its toll.”

"It was a hard and tough match that was a pleasure to take part in and more importantly win,” said Mr Nelson. “Despite the score line of 28-0 the match was a lot more competitive. Hopefully we can arrange another match and prove it wasn't the beer that helped us win!"

The game was refereed by Ian Fell from Folkstone Rugby Club: “It was a fantastic game of rugby played in the true spirit of the game - hard but fair,” he said. “Maybe some lasting good will come from a sport which millions of fans around the world know to be a fantastic game, where laws are obeyed without question and respect for your opposition and the referee.”

The Pumas would like to thank the Crusaders for travelling to the north, Esentepe Football Club, the spectators for their support, the Pumas’ sponsors and the Emergency Services Branch.

The Pumas next game will be against the Guzelyurt and Lefke RUFC (North Cyprus Warriors) on Saturday October 16. This will be the first of a three match test series. More information will be on the Pumas web site in the near future or visit the Warriors web site www.pitchero.com/clubs/guzelyurtlefkerufc

The Cyprus Pumas will be kicking off against a touring team on at 4.30pm Saturday, September 11 at the Esentepe Football Stadium.
A request from the touring side has brought about the early start to the season and the players have been training in preparation for their first 2010/11 season game.

There will be a bbq and bar available to spectators during the game. Entry fee including a programme is 5TL for adults 2TL for students. The new membership season has started and anyone wishing to renew their membership can do so at the gate on entry. Players membership is 160TL, social membership 50TL, more details will be available at the game.
Come along and support the Pumas and enjoy an afternoon at the beautiful Esentepe stadium. After the match the players will be heading to the Esentepe Villa Hotel, everyone is welcome to join them.

Touring side Bracknell will be playing the Pumas on Saturday May 29 at the Alsancak Stadium.
Kick off will be at 4.30pm, however there will be a fun day taking place on the training pitch from 3pm. Along with stalls for the adults to browse, there will be plenty to keep the children occupied. There will be a bbq and bar all day with entertainment planned for after the game.
 
Everyone welcome to come along and enjoy a family day and support the Pumas in their last game of the season.
There is a boat trip planned with the Bracknell players on Monday May 31, some tickets are still available for £20 a head, contact 0533 866 2758 for information.
 
The Pumas end of season ball will take place on Saturday June 5 at the Altinkaya Rooftop bar; ticket price 50TL includes a three course meal, three free drinks and entertainment. Player’s awards for Best Rookie, Most Improved Player, Best Forward, Best Back, Player’s Player, Club Person and Player of the Year will be presented. Contact 0533 866 2758 to book your tickets.

The Pumas will kick off against Ankara side ODTU on Sunday May 16 at the Alsancak Stadium at 4pm.

This will be an important game for the Pumas in their bid to retain the title of Turkish League champions.

Gates will open at 3.30pm, entry and programmes cost 5TL for adults, 2TL for students and free to membership card holders.

Come along and support the Pumas

“It was tough, physical game, the Pumas missed a lot of tackles in the first half, giving the Ottomans the momentum to score,” said Team Manager Steve Knight. “The Pumas rallied in the second half, played a lot better, getting more tackles in and having most of the possession, but just couldn’t get the final score to equalise.”

Pumas v Northampton Casuals The Pumas suffered their first defeat of the 2009/10 season on Saturday. Northampton Casuals, on tour from the UK, beat the home side 43-19.The game started with the Casuals keeping the game in the forwards and picking and driving the ball up field, it was only due to some great tackling by the Pumas that didn’t score.  The home team took the lead initially when Man of the Match Can Özyürük made a break and kicked ahead, scoring under the posts and then converting the try taking the Pumas to a 7-0 lead.The Casuals made it a very physical game, fielding a very strong pack. Although most of the touring side were veterans, they also had two young back row players, one of whom plays for the Wasps academy side. It wasn’t long before their talent paid off with three tries in quick succession. The Pumas came back with Can setting Hilmi Kocak up for a try, which Dinçhan Kilercioğlu converted. At half time the score stood at 17-14 to the Northampton Casuals.In the second half the Pumas once again took the lead with Batuhan Öksüzal chasing down a kick and putting Emre Taşkın in for the score. However the Casuals upped their game scoring a further four tries before the final whistle.The Pumas continue their bid to retain the Turkish Champions title playing their next league game on Saturday (March 13) in Istanbul against the Ottomans.  

The Pumas will play a UK touring side on Saturday March 6.

Kicking off at noon at the Alsancak Stadium. Gates will open at 11.30am. Entry 5TL for adults, 2TL for students and free for Pumas members.

Come and support the Pumas

Pumas v Bakirkoy match report The Cyprus Pumas scored their highest ever win on Saturday, 90-0 against visiting side Bakirkoy.Playing on the ground at Esentepe due to the usual home ground being unavailable, the Pumas took advantage of the wider pitch. The backs kept the ball in play at all times and passed well enabling winger Batuhan Öksüzal to score his second hat trick of the season and opposite winger Michael James two tries in the first half. A further try and three conversions took the half time score to 36-0.Despite a valiant attempt by the Bakirkoy team, the Pumas were unstoppable in the second half, team captain Sam Butcher setting up a couple of the eight tries that ensued, seven of which were converted. Final score 90-0.“This is the best we have played,” said head coach George Armstrong. “We kept the ball alive and we played as a team going forward and in defence.”Yavuz Ergün was awarded man of the match for his brilliant tackling and controlling the backs from behind.“This is an excellent score for the Pumas,” said club captain Sebastien Crebier. “However, we must give credit to Bakirkoy, they never gave up, they were worthy opponents, even when they were down two players, they kept going.”The Pumas next game will be against a UK visiting side on Saturday March 6. They will be kicking off at noon at the usual home pitch in Alsancak. Everyone welcome, entry fee 5TL for adults, 2TL for students and free to Pumas members. Gates will open at 11.30am.Try scorers: Batuhan Öksüzal 3, Michael James 2, Kurşat Canbaz 2, Emre Taşkın 1, Dinçhan Kilercioğlu 1, Joseph Ömer 1, Mehmet Ozan Ozmen 1, Hilmi Kocak 1, Ilkay Demirtaş 1, Can Özyürük 1

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Pumas on tour

The Bakirkoy v Pumas game began with an early start for most of the team, with the flight to Istanbul taking off at 8am.

The planning for the trip had been fraught with problems, heavy snow in Istanbul on Thursday had been a major concern; a lack of Props being available until the last minute; no accommodation being booked by the opposition; frantically completed medicals to register the players; the opposition were insisting on a 12.00 kick-off and the hat to be awarded for ass of the day had gone missing.

On the positive side, a meeting with Pegasus airlines had resulted in discounted flight prices.

However, 18 set off from Ercan to be met by Ozzy flying in from Izmir, Dinchan coming from Ankara and Yavuz, Emre and Hakan, already in Istanbul, at Sabiha Gocken airport at 9.45am.

The Bakirkoy organised coach eventually turned up at 11.15am and they were expecting a kick-off at noon! Despite knowing they were collecting 24 rugby players and their kit, they sent a small mini-bus, barely big enough to shoe-horn 18 people in, fortunately Yavuz had his car!

During the wait, Martin, who had found a seat behind a taxi stall was approached by a member of the public for a taxi, to which he replied: “taxi yok!” Understandable he could be mistaken for a Turkish taxi driver wouldn’t you say!

The Pumas refused to go straight to play, insisting that they required something to eat and a warm-up before playing. The answer from Bakirkoy was “ok but the ambulance we booked leaves at 2pm.”

In the end, kick off was at 1.30pm, with no ambulance having turned up at all. After a few phone calls it was established that they were busy having lunch and had then attended another emergency. They finally turned up 10 minutes before the end of the game at 2.50pm! Fortunately they had not been required.

On arrival at the ground it became apparent that Bakirkoy were not very prepared at all. They had no rugby balls, luckily the Pumas had brought a couple to practice with them; there was no padding around the posts, the lines were being done as the Pumas arrived and none too straight and no water was provided. Fortunately the team manager had the foresight to purchase some water at the Hyper-market near the ground when he’d bought the after-match beers! The opposition’s water was kept in one of their cars until half time.

So far not much of a rugby spirit going on with the Bakirkoy boys! One of which appeared to be auditioning for Phantom of the Opera judging by the mask he was wearing to protect his broken nose. A first on a rugby pitch that any of us had encountered. Was it even legal?

Despite a scrappy start to the game, the Pumas took the lead 3-0 with a penalty kicked by Can. This was followed by a try from Dinchan and two tries by Batu, the second of which was converted by Dinchan, taking the score to 20-0 at half time.

In the second half Batu got his hat trick try which was converted. Can got sent off for high tackling; a Bakirkoy player got sent off for giving Sam a Chinese burn (although didn’t seem to understand the concept of the sin bin as he came straight back on again! Kev the ref soon put him right!) There wo further tries by Dinchan and Seb followed by a penalty try which took the final score to 44-0.

And there was a first for Ozzy, he managed not to get sent off!

The Pumas were good in the rucks, despite a Bakirkoy player continually trying to pull them down. Martin eventually got fed up with it and there’s no doubt that player will be nursing quite a few stud marks for a while! The backs looked good when they got the ball and there was no doubt that the Pumas were the stronger side and it was very apparent they understood more of the rules than their opposing side.

“We are pleased with the result and that we didn’t have any points scored against us,” said Sam, team captain. “Although it was scrappy game from both sides, our experience paid dividends. The backs had a good game and the forwards played well, it was a good result all in all, but there is still room for improvement.”

After the game and an hour’s drive, the team arrived at the Hush Hostel in Kadikoy, where they were to be entertained by the new team in Istanbul, Khalkedon, run by previous Pumas chairperson Naci.

The night’s entertainment included the award of man of the match to Batu and the jester’s hat for his comments on the field to Martin, a round of Yogi Bear led by Sam, a convincing victory in the boat race by the Pumas, gate-crashing a wedding party, a fight and copious amounts of alcohol!

Mirunalan, who somehow landed a double bed, ended up sharing it with an extremely drunk ex-Puma player, after he had been convinced not to drive.

Thanks to Hakan, a coach was organised to pick up the weary team at 6am for the return journey, which was pretty uneventful.

Tour comments:

Michael – what seat number are you?

Sam – 28F

Michael – oh great I’m, 28 too, I must be behind you.

Martin – is Steve driving the mini bus?

Claire - No Martin, they drive on the other side of the road in Turkey

Steve on going to the toilets in MacDonalds – am I a Bay or a Bayan? How long have you lived in Cyprus Steve?

On the pitch:

Martin with his fists up after studding a Bakirkoy player for pulling down the rucks, who then decided to have a go back:  “Don’t touch me boy!”

Sam after an attempted Chinese burn on his leg and attacking one of the opposition number 12s – there were two for some reason: “You know what you */!*@#!* did!”

Fortunately the ref saw what he had done and the Bakikoy player got sin binned.

On the walk returning to the hostel after the night out:

Jon: 2TL for a gay? Hakan, why are they selling gays for 2TL.

Hakan: Jon that’s çay!

Martin at the airport to come home putting his luggage down – Claire, can I leave this here in charge of you?

And finally, the story of Kevin and the mystery Germans:

After struggling to sleep due the snoring of Steve (it couldn’t have been me I didn’t sleep at all!), Kevin decided he would try sleeping in the hostel lounge. Armed with his blankets, he curled up on a settee until being woken by some mystery Germans. Asked how he knew they were Germans he replied they had asked him in a German accent if they had woken him.

“One of them had a flat hat on his head too.”

Kevin decided to return to his room, which he shared with Sam, Steve, Jon, Seb and Joe, at 4am, where all five were apparently snoring in harmony.

Since the Pumas had occupied the entire hostel and the front door was locked, no one can understand where these Germans appeared from at 4am, however, Kevin will not have it that he dreamt the whole thing and continues to maintain they were for real!

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At the beginning of the season the Pumas staged an inter-club game to prepare themselves for the forthcoming 2009/10 season.

Two teams of 15, captained by Kursat Canbaz and Dinchan Kilercioglu, played a competitive game. Well done to all those involved.

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