HMS Lancaster sunk by Cayman Rugby

(CRFU): A team from the HMS Lancaster, in Cayman waters during the Hurricane Season, took on a local Cayman Rugby Select XV on 22 June in a game that marked the end of the local rugby XV’s season. With the end of the domestic and international Rugby XV’s season the Cayman Rugby Union now makes way for the Rugby 7’s season which will be highlighted by the 2013 NACRA 7’s Championship to be held here in Cayman in November 2013. The HMS Lancaster XV, coming from wins over Bermuda U19 XV and a loss to Key West RFC, fielded 12 players and borrowed the remainder from their Caymanian hosts and it wasn’t long before Cayman started to pile the points on their visitors. (Photo by Caroline Deegan)

The heat, and the fact that HMS Lancaster players do not often get the opportunity to train as a team whilst on deployment, lead to a 66-7 mauling! HMS Lancaster’s only try on the day being recorded by honorary Seaman Iain Blackwell.

Whilst the rugby action was a one sided affair on the pitch the HMS Lancaster XV enjoyed food and drink provided by the Cayman Rugby Union in recognition of their arrival on Island which forms part of a long history of games played by the Cayman Rugby Union against visiting British Naval Ships.

HMS Lancaster now moves to Turks and Caicos where they hope for better fortunes on the Rugby pitch. Turks and Caicos recently played their first full IRB sanctioned International Rugby match against Jamaica which they lost 31-13.

Photos by Caroline Deegan:
Lanc1: HMS Lancaster forward Sam Winfield looks to make his way to the Cayman try line.
Lanc2: Ricardo Brown touches down for 5 of Cayman’s 66 points on the day.