Iguanas cook up a Storm

(CRFU): Whilst most of Cayman was buzzing with super bowl fever Rugby fans island wide were more interested in the kick off to the RBS 6 Nations followed by local rugby action in the afternoon at the South Sound Rugby Ground. The John Doak Architecture Iguanas piled on the misery for the Century 21 Cayman Storm on Saturday 2 February with a 10 point win over the current holders of the Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy. Whilst the Iguanas were without loose head prop and national XV’s captain Ben McDonald plus powerful inside centre Adam Keenan they welcomed Marcus Cumber and Chris Kennedy back into the squad. Photos  Caroline Deegan

The Storm, still without the services of Vanassio Tokotokovanua and Jeffrey Robinson welcomed back Camilo Andres and Keswick Wright, the latter making a surprise 180 degree turn on his decision to take early retirement from Rugby.

The Storm also welcomed the addition of local boy Dane Campbell and new front row forward Simon Dunsford to the match day squad.

The Iguanas were fast out of the blocks and controlled the early exchanges of the game and it was Iguana winger Marcus Cumber who racked up the first point for the Iguanas with an easy run under the posts from a well worked move off an Iguana set piece. The try was converted to take the score to 7-0.

The Iguanas scored again when a deep kick was knocked into the try area by Keswick Wright and Iguana fly-half Shaun Harcastle took the opportunity to touch the ball down to extend the Iguana lead to 14-0. A further Iguana penalty kick was notched up by Hardcastle before the Storm had their first taste of points.

A loose kick from the Iguanas in their own half went to the Storm back line who thrive on loose open play and it was unsurprisingly Keswick Wright who ran in a try in the corner to make up for his earlier mistake and to ring in the half time score of 17-5.

The second half started well for the Iguanas again as the ball was pushed wide and Marcus Cumber ran in for his second try of the day. The conversion was missed by Hardcastle to take the score to 22-5 but staring down a 17 point deficit the Storm forwards came to life and a drive over try for the Storm pack secured by no. 8 Phil Thompson was unconverted to take the score to 22-10

With the clock winding down and the Iguanas spending large periods defending their try line a further kickable penalty for Shaun Hardcastle extended the Iguana lead to 15 points 25-10 meaning that the Storm would need to make at least 3 scores to take the win but with only a further unconverted Hugh Williams try the Storm earned the closing points of the game. The 10 point loss still leaves the Storm without any league points after 2 games.

The Storm, coming off 3 straight losses to the Buccaneers (in the Heineken Charity Shield), the Pigs Trotters and now the Iguanas will be looking to stem the blood loss as they take on the Advance Fire & Plumbing Buccaneers at 2pm on 9 February. 

The 2nd game on Saturday ended in a nail biting 17-17 draw between the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters. The Buccaneers, welcoming back Stefan Prior in the scrum and Paul Murphy at full-back were also buoyed by the addition of Morgan Shelver at fly-half in replacement of Michael Peck who is now out for the season.

The Buccaneers appeared to have the Pigs Trotters on the ropes early on with captain Dan Bond bullying his way to the try line twice to take the score to 12-0 before some enterprising play from the Pigs Trotters saw Paul Westin earn a try for the men in red and a Marco du Plessis conversion brought up the half time score of 12-7.

The 2nd half of the game however saw a resurgent Pigs Trotters side use their powerful forwards Paul Parker and Connan Hill to notch up 2 more unconverted tries balanced by a Buccaneer flyer Addae Andrews try in the corner to see in the draw.

The Pigs Trotters, whilst happy to come away with a draw having gone 12-0 down early in the first half will be looking to week 3 to ensure that Marco Du Plessis’s kicking boot finds its former form against the league leading Iguanas as a few missed penalty kicks could have sealed a 2nd consecutive win for the Pigs Trotters.

The draw with the Pigs Trotters sees the Buccaneers leapfrog the Cayman Storm into 3rd place whilst the Iguanas and Pigs Trotters remain in 1st and 2nd in the league standings.

Whilst games are televised online on www.caymanrugbytv.com games can be watched (at no charge) in South Sound at the Cayman Rugby Football Club and spectators will not be disappointed with ample fast, hard hitting action!

Next games:
9 February 2013
2pm Century 21 Cayman Storm (Home) vs. Advance Fire & Plumbing Buccaneers (Away)
4pm John Doak Architecture Iguanas (Home) vs. Queensgate Pigs Trotters (Away)

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