Cayman preps for big game after win in Bermuda

(CNS): The Cayman National Senior men’s rugby team posted a 24 to 3 away win over arch rivals Bermuda in their first round NACRA test match last weekend. A record win away from home for Cayman against the team, local officials said that this sets things up for the NACRA Northern final between 2013 champions USA South and Cayman in the SteppingStones Big Game 4 on Saturday. Despite the impressive score card officials said Cayman made more than their fair share of errors in the game and will need to eradicate these if they are going to beat the power of USA South. They will also have some work to do on scrummage and Line out which went well at times but also let the team down on several occasions.

Cayman pushed hard in the first half against Bermuda heading into a strong twenty knot wind which kept them pinned back and meant that they had to work hard with the ball mainly in hand to gain territorial ground. The deadlock was broken after around 10 minutes when Kes Wright fielded a kick from fly half DuPlesis to scamper between the posts for a 7 to 0 lead.

Bermuda struck back with a penalty and Cayman held on for a 7 to 3 half time lead. In the second half DuPlesis kicked a penalty for Cayman taking the score to 10 to 3 before Yohagn Regnard scored from a nicely executed line out to take the score to 15 to 3. Cayman then kept the screw turned with Heyward adding a further 3 penalty kicks for a final 24 to 3 win.

CEO Richard Adams said he was happy with the growth of the programme and the result. “

“This management team has been appointed until the 2016 World Cup qualification process so I am delighted to see the steady improvement in performance and results. The work of Brad Cowdroy, Tim Rossiter and JS De Jager is evident as is the conditioning and professionalism of Dave Clancy. Our Medical team of Sean Teeling, Al Bartice and Kate Macpherson are all making huge in roads into the professional approach of the team. They all deserve plaudits for what they are achieving.”

Adams said the CRFU has taken the steps to develop this High performance programme and the fact that the team will be ranked higher in the World than Cayman has ever been is cause to congratulate everyone involved in the success.

“There will be a lot of work to do in the week to get things absolutely right for Saturdays clash, “The said. “The staff will have to be aware that this is two hard test matches in seven days so it will not be easy. However we have a chance to make our first final right here in Cayman at Big Game 4…It will be great to hear the noise coming out  of the Stadium on Saturday as our nation rises to push the players all the way through.”

In the NACRA Southern Division Guyana emerged victors over Trinidad and Tobago with a 15 to 8 home win and advance to the finals on 28 June. The Venue of the final match will be decided on Monday when the new IRB rankings emerge after the weekends results.

Cayman will move to their highest World Ranking since records began but the team will have to see if the large away winboosts them over Guyana to set up a possible home field advantage for the final, USA South however are standing firmly in the way of that potential final being in Cayman.

The game against USA South is scheduled to kickoff at 3pm at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on June 14th. Tickets and Corporate packages for the game are still available but in limited supply at www.caymanrugby.com