DHL Storm knock out the Queensgate Pigs Trotters

(CNS): In the decider to see which team would face the Don Fosters Dive Iguanas in the Waterford Trophy final on 17 April at the South Sound Rugby Ground it was the DHL Storm who came out on top after 80 minutes of tough and fast rugby, according to a release from the Cayman Rugby Football Union. The Queensgate Pigs Trotters were licking their lips at the chance to avenge their 13 March hammering at the hands of the DHL Storm and more importantly in doing so move to the Waterford Trophy final as the only team who have managed to beat the Iguanas so far this season. (Photos by Jayne Woollard)

Instead it is the Storm who will be hoping its 3rd time lucky as they face a very solid and well drilled Iguana side on 17 April. 

Whilst the score line was heavily in favour of the Storm, the Pigs Trotters were unlucky to not be more in control of proceedings throughout the 80 minutes of play. The Pigs, playing a very forward driven style of rugby took away the Storm’s attacking options but as the case has been all season, the opportunistic DHL Storm were able to turn any small mistake into points on the board through devastating counter attack by the speedy Storm backline. The Pigs on the other hand were let down by the unusually wayward boot of Michael Wilson who missed a string of kicks in front of the posts which would have kept his team in contention.

The DHL Storm were buoyed by the absence of Doug Anderson, who as the Pigs Trotters lineout specialist would have no doubt provided ample ball for his team mates but instead left the Storm able to compete in a facet of the game which they have struggled all season.

The Pigs Trotters were further let down by the niggling back injury of loose head prop Nick Greaves who became little more than “the walking wounded” as the game progressed. With no support from the Pigs Trotters substitute bench and a worry that the departure of Greaves would leave no option other than to digress to uncontested scrums, Greaves remained on the pitch providing as much help as possible to his team in open play but the continual back pain hampered Greaves from getting around the pitch to provide support to his team mates. The onlookers at the South Sound ground were amazed that Greaves played on for the remainder of the game albeit for his clear discomfort but his spirit towards his team would have no doubt urged his fellow Pigs to push for the win no matter what.

The DHL Storm, fielding an experimental side, saw the return of Captain Keswick Wright for the first time this season but Wright’s triumphant return to the field was overshadowed by the solid performance of Kenrick “Baron” Solomon who managed to score 2 tries on the wing. Solomon was replaced by Hugh “Willo” Williams late in the game having injured his ankle in scoring is 2nd try but Williams was able to fill the shoes of his injured team mate and also score out wide. Try machine Raqtoi was able to hammer the final nail in the coffin for the Pigs Trotters when a good build up in play was intercepted out wide by the Fijian who was able to canter the entire length of the field to score the final try of the day.

FINAL SCORE
Queensgate Pigs Trotters 8-31 DHL Storm
TEAMS:
Queensgate Pigs Trotters:
1.Nick Greaves 2.Stuart Geddes 3.David Terry 4.Connan Hill 5.Jan Golaszewski 6.Graeme Thompson 7.Ed Westin 8.Darren Sandler 9.Ed Hayward 10.Chase Dell 11.Nick Gale 12.Justin Wight 13.Mike Wilson 14.Gwyn Richards 15.Andrew Ibeh

Scorers:
Try: Edward Westin
Penalty: Ed Hayward

DHL Storm:
1.Ian Blackwell 2.Olewethu “Ollie” Bushula 3.Sean “Bling” Ebanks 4.Jim Johnson 5.Jeffrey Robinson 6.Taylor Foster 7.Josh Clarke 8.Raqtoi 9.Scotty Forrest 10.Michael Sumares 11.Keswick Wright 12.Camilio “Chile” Ramirez 13.Phil O’Connor 14.Baron Solomon 15. P.J. Cavanagh 16.Hugh “Willo” Williams 17.Justin Colgan 18.Chris Jackson

Tries: Baron Solomon (x2), Hugh Willo Williams, Raqtoi
Conversions: Michael Sumares (x4)
Penalty: Michael Sumares

Games free to watch and streamed worldwide live on www.caymanrugbytv.com