Domestic rugby returns with AR Scott 10s

(CRFU): As the CRFU summer mixed touch rugby league, one of the most popular sporting leagues in the Cayman Islands, wound down, the 9th annual AR Scott 10s tournament kicked off on 1 September much to the joy of those Cayman Rugby members who have not enjoyed the sight of local full contact rugby since the John Gibson Hangover match which featured rugby great Shane Williams in June of this year. With the DHL Cayman Storm on tour in Jamaica only 3 teams took the field, the Krys Global Buccaneers, the John Doak Architecture Iguanas and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters. (Photos Caroline Deegan)

10s, as the name suggests, is 10 a-side rugby which doesn’t provide all the contact and structure of the XV a side game (and is not as high scoring as the 7 a-side game) is played on a full pitch, 15 minutes each way and allows for rolling substitutions.

The Buccaneers and the Iguanas faced off in an early tight game which the Buccaneers won 14-0. The Iguanas controlled much of the ball early on and indeed had some strong opportunities to take control of the gamewith speedy Tom Mann providing ample breaks but the Iguanas could not finish any forays into the Buccaneer territory and it was left to Buccaneer fullback Joel Clark to seal the win for the Buccaneers.

In the second game the Pigs Trotters looked to overcome the tired Buccaneers but it wasn’t to be with the Buccaneers running ragged over the quicker, fitter Pigs Trotters. The final game of the day was also a tight affair with the Iguanas being eventually overcome in the second half to give the Pigs Trotters their first win of the tournament.

Week 2 saw the return of the DHL Storm to proceedings and provided an interesting prospect in the fact that games against the Storm counted for double points. All but the Iguanas took advantage of the double point prospect but an upset win in the opening game of the day between the Iguanas and the Pigs gave the Iguanas their first league points in the tournament! The Pigs Trotters, clearly unfazed by the loss took out the league leading Buccaneers too keep their tournament hopes truly alive and well.

The final week saw yet more exciting 10 aside Rugby with the Iguanas looking to build on their solitary win over the Pigs Trotters and were close against both the Buccaneers and the DHL Storm but the Pigs Trotters made no mistake the 3rd time round to build towards a winner take all final against the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers sealed the final win in a tournament which saw them lose only 1 game. Had the Pigs Trotters recorded a win in the final the tournament would be decided on points difference but it wasn’t to be for the young Pigs who finished the tournament in 2nd place.

The prospect of a strong Pigs Trotters side coming into the Rugby XV’s season has got the local rugby punters talking as the Pigs Trotters only recorded 1 win last season!

Final Standings:
1st: Krys Global Buccaneers
2nd: Queensgate Pigs Trotters
3rd: DHL Cayman Storm
4th: John Doak Architecture Iguanas

Contact Rugby continues this weekend at the South Sound Rugby Pitch with the kickoff of the CRFU Summer 7s series featuring a Men’s divisions and a Women’s Division with all action kicking off at 130pm.