Memorial trophy promises thrilling final

(CRFU): The Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy is once again heading for a thrilling finale on 15 March 2014. After 5 weeks of play the top 2 sides are still only separated by 1 point in the league standings and 5 points on point difference. After a stuttering performance in the first week of play where the John Doak Architecture Iguanas (2013 Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy Winners) were surprised by the Queensgate Pigs Trotters the Iguanas have mounted a 4 game winning streak to take pole position atop the table. It all boils down to the final week of play where the Iguanas face the so far winless Fidelity Cayman Storm and the Pigs Trotters face the ever dangerous Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers.

Week 5 action saw the Iguanas take on the Buccaneers and although the Iguanas started strong and scored first through back row Matthew Dors the Buccaneers came back hard and took the lead through a converted Joel Clark try followed by a further James McGinn Try. The Buccaneers maintained a good half hour of dominance and marched out a 21-10 lead by half time thanks to solid kicking from Morgan Shelver. The Iguanas could only manage a further Johnny Doak penalty.

The Iguanas rebounded in the 2nd half with their forwards again seeking to maintain as much possession as possible with tight play around the break down and further scores from Yohann Regnard and Peter de Vere put the Iguanas into the lead for the 2nd time of the game. 

A fourth try for the Iguanas came from centre Adam Keenan to make the score 29-21 to the Iguanas and the Iguanas ground out the final 8 minutes of play  to secure their 2nd bonus point win of the season over the Buccaneers.

Before the kick off the Buccaneers (even though they sat in 3rd place) were with a chance to make a charge for the league title but the 3rd loss of the season puts them out of the running with only 1 game to go.

Final Score Iguanas 29-21 Buccaneers

The 2nd game of the day between the Pigs Trotters and the Cayman Storm looked to be building into a tight affair before the Pigs Trotters got into a flow and dismantled the Cayman Storm.

The first quarter of the game was low scoring with the Cayman Storm scoring first through Josh Brown penalty kick but the Trotters were soon on the board with a Keswick Wright converted try.

Albeit for continued pressure from the Trotters the Storm were resilient in the 2nd quarter. The Pigs Trotters were, for long periods, camped close to the Storm try line but could not get past the Storm forward pack.

Trotters wing James Waters broke the stalemate between the teams 10 minutes into the 2nd half when a fortunate bounce confused the Storm back 3 leaving the speedy Waters time to collect the kick and run under the posts to make the score 14-3.

Try no. 3 for the Trotters came though Shaun McDermott after some kicking “ping pong” between the teams led to a miscued kick from the Storm right into the hands of McDermott who, collecting the  ball on the Storm 22 meter line, marched in unscathed to score in the corner. Although the Pigs had extended their lead to 17 points the Storm had a final flurry on the hour mark and some continued pressure put Storm no. 8 Paul Smith over to score in the corner. Josh Brown converted (on his 2nd attempt) to ring up the Storm’s final points of the game.

The Pigs rung up their bonus point in the final 20 minutes with a drive over try 5 meters out from the Storm try line and again managed a 5th try to improve their points difference and close out the game soon thereafter.

Final Score Pigs Trotters 36-10 Cayman Storm

Upcoming Fixtures 15 March 2014
John Doak Architecture Iguanas vs. Fidelity Cayman Storm 3:00pm KO
Advance Fire & Plumbing Buccaneers vs. Queensgate Pigs Trotters 4:45pm KO

Games are free to watch at the South Sound Rugby Ground or online at www.caymanrugby.com

Photos by Caroline Deegan