Cayman U19s off to Mexico to defend their title
(CRFU): The Cayman Islands under 19 rugby team travels to Mexico City on Friday July 6 to defend their Caribbean championship crown won last July in Cayman at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.In last year’s tournament, Cayman defeated Barbados in their opening match, before seeing off Bermuda in a tough semi-final and then Trinidad & Tobago in a nail biting final. This year Cayman will get their campaign started against hosts Mexico on Saturday July 7.Cayman haven't met Mexico since defeating them in the final back in 2009.
Cayman’s second game of this year’s tournament will be against Barbados, and if they are successful in these games, they could meet either Bermuda or Trinidad & Tobago in the final on Saturday July 14.
Cayman’s most recent warm up match was last Saturday against a Shane Williams XV. Williams who was on island for the Cayman Rugby Football union annual dinner, is an international superstar of rugby. Williams is one of the world’s most exciting wingers, known for his side-step and electric acceleration and has played 91 international matches for Wales and the British and Irish lions, scoring 60 tries. He was also the 2008 IRB world player of the year.
Cayman have had an impressive recent record in the Caribbean championships, winning the title 3 times in the past 4 years. This squad is the most experienced for a number of years with three members, Morgan Hayward, Tom Mann and Alex Pineau, playing for the full men’s Cayman International XV’s side in this year’s regional campaign which saw Cayman defeat Mexico and the Bahamas on home soil.
All of the squad, management and parents have been working hard for months to raise the funds for this 10 day trip. The venture would not have been possible without financial support from the Cayman Islands Government and the following local businesses.
DART, Deutsche Bank, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Rawlinson & Hunter, Pestkil, Caledonian Global Financial Services, Otis Air Conditioning, ICG Management Limited, Universal Air Conditioning, Cayman Pal, Island Air, CUC, Rankine & Kerrie McMillian, DMS Offshore, the Security Centre and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters RFC.
Games will be streamed live over the internet on
http://www.justin.tv/fmru#r=l6QtvHU~&s=em
See the U19 sqaud profiles below U19 Squad Profiles
Category: Sports
Update from Nawira.Com…
Bermuda 11 Trinidad & Tobago 19
In the first match of the 2012 Championships, losing 2011 finalists Trinidad & Tobago laid down their marker with hard fought 19-11 win over Bermuda. Bermuda got off to a quick start through a penalty from centre Tristan Kermode, after sustained pressure, only to see the lead disappear when gaps in the Bermuda defence let in T&T fullback Jamal Stewart, who ceased his opportunity to out run the Bermuda defence. Sebastian Navaro duly converted to give T&T a 7-3 lead at half time.
The match was one of contrasting styles with Bermuda looking to retain the ball in the tight and use their forwards to punch holes up the middle and at the base of the ruck, whereas T&T looked to spin the ball and utilise their faster players wherever possible. Kermode pulled the score back to 7-6 in favour of T&T early in the second half, however the tight and well marshalled T&T defence prevented Bermuda from crossing the line. T&T centre Tariq Cheeks extended the T&T lead to 12 -6, which was shortly followed by one for T&T wing Anderson Joseph, as Bermuda began to tire in the Mexican sun. Stewart added the conversion to give T&T a 19-6 lead. Bermuda rallied in the closing minutes of the match as they tried to close the deficit and were rewarded with a try by full back Scott Heany in the dying moments. Unfortunately Bermuda ran out of time and were unable to secure a losing bonus points.
Cayman Islands 11 Mexico 6
In the second match, reigning U19 champions were pushed all the way by hosts Mexico to secure their first win of the 2012 tournament. Cayman took the lead with a penalty from fly half Morgan Heywood only to be pinned up back to 3-3 with a penalty from Mexican fly half Eduardo Romo. Cayman took the initiative and an 8-3 half time lead with a try from left wing Sebastian Legras. In the second half Heywood slotted his second penalty to give Cayman an 11-3 lead. The match remained finally balanced all the way through the second half with Mexico unable to capitalise on some powerful runs up the middle of the field, while the normally reliable Morgan found it difficult at times to find touch and kick his penalties. Mexico pulled the score back to 11-6 in the final minutes of the match with a penalty from Romo to secure a losing bonus point.
At the end of Day 1, the final on July 14th is already looking like a repeat of the 2011 championship which saw Cayman defeat Trinidad and Tobago.
GAME SCHEDULE
The Pool stage of the tournament will consist of matches between teams in the same pool on a round robin basis. Each game will last no more than 70 minutes of playing time. Injury time will be added at the end of each half. The winner of each Pool will be the team with the highest number of points. Points will be awarded for these matches on the following basis:
Saturday July 7th
12.00 p.m. Bermuda v Trinidad & Tobago
2.00 p.m. Mexico v Cayman Islands
Monday July 9th
12.00 p.m. Bermuda v TBA
2.00 p.m. Mexico & Barbados
Wednesday July 11th
12.00 p.m. Trinidad & Tobago v TBA
2.00 p.m. Cayman v Barbados
Finals
Saturday July 14th
10.00 p.m. Third Place Pool A v Third Place Pool B
12.00 p.m. Runner Up Pool A v Runner Up Pool B
2.00 p.m. Winner Pool A v Winner Pool B