Cayman vs. Middlebury College.

(CRFU):  The Fidelity Cayman Storm RFC and the John Doak Architecture Iguanas RFC (currently ranked 4th and 3rd in the 2014 Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy Competition) joined forces on Sunday 2 February to take on Middlebury College Rugby Club who are on Island for a 3 game touring series. The South Sound Rugby pitch does not often entertain Rugby Games on a Sunday but with Middlebury having arrived on Island only the day before the young Americans were keen to get a game under their belt and acclimatize to playing in the Caribbean heat and humidity. (Photos Caroline Deegan)

Middlebury were certainly the younger, fitter and more organized team going into the opening fixture but the Cayman Select side had size and experience on their side.

The Americans opened the scoring first and the Cayman side struggled to contain the young Americans early on. With some kicking for territory mingled with forward driving from the Cayman side the “Stiguanas” soon found themselves in scoring distance after a missed Robbie Cribb Penalty kick was knocked forward by Middlebury and a series of forward phases led to a pick a drive ball close to line which allowed Iguana tighthead prop Peter de Vere to open the scoring for the Cayman team.

Cayman soon started to impose some dominance on the proceedings and a brace of tries from Iguana flyhalf Kramer Bell and a fourth try from Iguana wing James Macfee gave the Stiguanas some breathing room on the scoreboard but a red card for foul play left the Cayman side playing with 14 men for much of the 2nd half and gave Middlebury the opportunity to mount a late charge for the win but thanks to 2 Robbie Cribb Penalties and 2 Robbie Cribb conversions the Stiguanas held on to win by 9 points 30-21

On Tuesday 4 February the two top ranked teams in the 2014 Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy series (the Queensgate Bank Pigs Trotters RFC and the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers RFC) took on Middlebury and much like the Stiguanas before them struggled early on against the feisty visitors. The Caymanians were down 12-0 before they reacted and 2 tries in quick succession (including a well worked chip and chase from Pigs Trotter center Keswick Wright) brought them equal with the visitors.

The “Puccs” took the lead with another converted try but rather than play safe consolidated rugby to see out the win the Cayman men decided to play the Americans at their own brand of up-tempo rugby by spreading the ball out wide. The “champagne rugby” tactic didn’t work with the numerous handling errors and turn-overs for the Puccs and with only 5 minutes on the clock the Cayman side saw their slender 4 point lead turn into a bitterly disappointing 10 point loss 29-19.

With the series now at 1-1 and all to play for it is now down to Cayman’s National Men’s XV’s side to take on Middlebury at 4pm on Friday.

Games are free to watch live at the Cayman Rugby Club in South Sound or on www.caymanrugbytv.com