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Maharashtra state Police (MSP) today won the ‘Wally Abraham Trophy’, state premier 15-a-side Rugby Championship 2015 defeating Bombay Gymkhana by 12- 5 at the finals, which held at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai. A total of 6 teams battled for the honors in the championship across the state. The participant teams were Bombay Gymkhana, Maharashtra state Police (MSP), Pune Police, Pune District Rugby Team, Greater Mumbai Police (GMP) and Mumbai Magicians Rugby team. The tournaments were conducted under the aegis of Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM) and Western India Rugby Football Union (WIRFU).
MSP played very aggressively right from the start in what was set to be a tightly contested game. MSP winger Pappu Todkar scored the first try and secured the conversions in the first 15 minutes of the game and built pressure on Bombay Gymkhana. At the end of the first half, Sherzad Rabadi from Bombay Gymkhana scored the try and led the concluding score to 7 - 5.
In the second half both teams notched up their attacks, MSP came back very aggressively. With the tight defence, Bombay Gym was able to hold off the opponents until the 78th minute but in the last phase of the game MSP’s Martand Funde broke through the defensive line and scored the try. The final score was 12-5.
The captain of the MSP team, Ranjeet Jambhale said, “We are very thrilled to win the Wally Abraham Trophy. Our players displayed extreme passion during the game. The team is grateful for the support and encouragement we received from the Maharashtra Police sports department and our seniors.” Further he added “Now the team is focussing on the ‘All India & South Asia Rugby Championship 2015’, India’s Premiere Division 1 Tournament starting next Month in Mumbai.'
Commenting on the occasions Mr. Sandeep Mosamkar, Joint Secretary, Rugby Association of Maharashtra said, “The MSP Rugby team displayed tremendous performance in the tournament. We witnessed an exciting game between two tightly contested teams who have been playing Rugby for the past century. Maharashtra State Police has nurtured and given some extremely talented players to the National Rugby team. As a representing body that is passionate about developing Rugby in the State, RAM is thankful to Maharashtra Police, Mumbai Police, Pune Police, Kolhapur Police and Nashik Police for supporting and encouraging Rugby initiatives.”
