The 2009 North American & West Indies Rugby Assocation (NAWIRA) U-19 CaribbeanChampionships kicked off on the South Sound Rugby Pitch on Sunday 5 July with the opening match of Jamaica taking on newcomers Bahamas. Jamaica, a usually quick team which thrives on the chaos of open play were a much-changed side, having won this competition 2 years ago on this very same ground and then progressed onto the Junior Rugby World Trophy in Chile, it was thought that the men in dark green and gold would make little work of the inexperienced Bahamians. The truth was that the Jamaicans were trying a new style of play which clearly didn’t suit them. The Jamaicans had opted for a forwards-driven game which starved their speedy backline of ball and with which their forwards were neither fit enough nor strong enough to play.

The Bahamians, whilst still undersized compared to their Jamaican counterparts, were steadfast in their determination to stop the Jamaicans at every breakdown and indeed the men in black and blue put in some big hits at every opportunity.

The ferocity of the tackles ensured long pauses in the game to allow the medics to tend to Jamaican players who were dropping like flies in the heat. However, the long pauses in the game, when added to the fact that the Jamaicans seemed almost reluctant to run the ball out wide where their true speed and athletic ability lay, meant the that 80 minute game left the spectators wanting.

The final score of 34-9 in favour of Jamaica was never in doubt but it wasn’t until the Jamaicans started to run and move the ball out wide that they saw points flow in their favour! Indeed it was still anyone’s game at half time when Jamaica were only leading 10-3 when their game plan seemed to favour the Bahamians.

The Bahamas, whilst unable to penetrate the Jamaican line with any real fervour were unlucky to not put more points on the board. The Bahamian inexperience showed when deciding to take a tap penalty in front of posts instead of a safe 3 points with the boot.

Source: Cayman Net News