Cayman Rugby gearing up for the festive season

(CRFU): Whilst many local rugby players are still working on their 7’s game the bigger (and certainly slower) form of Rugby XV’s returned to the South Sound shores on 30 November. With all new players on Island allocated to one of the four local club sides (the Queensgate Bank Pigs Trotters, the Fidelity Bank Cayman Storm, the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers and the John Doak Architecture Iguanas) thiswas, for most, the first rugby played since the 2013 season which ended in June. So whilst the games were strewn with errors some early signs of what promises to be an exciting season of Rugby Union emerged on the afternoon. Photos by Caroline Deegan

The games, both labeled as “warm up” games, do not count towards the domestic season but allowed coaches and managers a glimpse of new players strengths, overall team weaknesses and as is often a problem this time of year… fitness (or a lack thereof).

In the 2pm fixture a large Pigs Trotters squad which has been training hard in their spare time took on a thread bare Buccaneers side and most were surprised that the Pigs did not make easy work of the Buccaneers. The game was a high scoring and tense affair and in the closing stages of the match the Pigs Trotters were reduced to 13 men but even with the numbers disadvantage the Pigs Trotters held firm and thanks to a last second James Geary try the men in red took their first win over the Buccaneers in years.
Final score Pigs Trotters 33-30 Buccaneers

The 4pm fixture between the Iguanas and the Cayman Storm was a more one sided affair but an entertaining game none the less. The Iguanas were certainly rusty out of the blocks and ample handling errors and penalties gave the Cayman Storm plenty of ball possession. Ball possession which led to the usual trademark runs from Vanassio Tokotokovanua and Michael Sumares but none of the penetrating runs resulted in points for the Cayman Storm. Instead the Iguanas ran in 21 unanswered points even when they, like the Pigs Trotters before them played part of the game with men in the sin bin with yellow cards.
Final score Iguanas 21-0 Cayman Storm

The first real domestic season games (and the first chance of silverware) come with the Heineken Charity Shield/Wooden Spoon matches on 14 December. The title bout for the day is between the current holders of the Shield the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers vs. the current Alex Alexander Memorial League Trophy holder the John Doak Architecture Iguanas. The earlier 2pm fixture for the Wooden Spoon will be the “battle of the banks” when the Appleton Challenge Cup Holders, the Queensgate Bank Pigs Trotters take on the Fidelity Bank Cayman Storm.

Upcoming Fixtures

14 December 2013
2pm Heineken Wooden Spoon: Queensgate Pigs Trotters vs. Fidelity Cayman Storm
4pm Heineken Charity Shield: Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers vs. John Doak Architecture Iguanas
21 December 2013
4pm: CRFU Charity Toy Drive Match
26 December 2013
4pm: CRFU Boxing Day Game