Boxing Day Rugby

(CNS): Having barely recovered from the bruising 3rd test of the Challenge Cup, the members of the Cayman Rugby Union joined together to celebrate the festive season with their annual Boxing Day “President’s vs. Captains” match on Saturday 26 December at the Rugby Club. A release from the CRU says the Boxing Day game, played in Cayman since the Cayman Rugby Union’s inception, has been an opportunity for players of all ages and abilities to get a social run around and enjoy the lighter side of the sport of rugby, namely the camaraderie (whilst still keeping some semblance of competitiveness at the back of their minds).

With the Cayman Rugby Union providing complementary champagne and a full Xmas buffet it was a wonder why the players did not forgo sweating it out under the lovely Cayman sunshine to enjoy the food and booze but tradition won over and the game went ahead.

With both sides looking evenly matched it appeared as though the familial teaming of Coach Steve Clark and sons Josh and Joel for the Captains’ XV had tipped the balance in favour of the Captains’ side. Coach Clark, playing in his one game of the year is usually seen focussing his rugby energies on the sidelines of the pitch when overseeing the Cayman National U19’s team but he didn’t miss a step during the 80 minutes of Rugby on Boxing Day still managing to cut his way through younger opposition.

The Captains XV managed to maintain a lead throughout the game until the arrival of the fearsome Fijians lead to some spectacular solo efforts for the Presidents XV to bring the game to a close finish.

Not to be outdone by the Fijian superstars, the CRFU President Derek Haines ran in a 30 Yard effort from the base of the scrum cheered on by the crowd to score the final try of the game to a 25-17 win for the Captain’s XV.