Cayman’s defensive stance

The Cayman Islands U20 team is currently competing in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers held in Bridgetown, Barbados, from 5 to 12 July.

Day one saw current champions Jamaica see off a spirited Barbados performance 22 points to 11. Barbados led much of the game until Jamaica’s late arrivals joined the fray scoring a couple of late tries to pull away.

In game two, 3rd seed Cayman Islands faced the might of second seed Guyana for the first time.

Cayman came out well, but too many errors led to them being under quite a bit of pressure during the opening stanza and not really being able to move the ball down field. It was Guyana who scored first after Cayman lost possession in a ruck in halfway. Guyana scooped up the ball and attacked an unmarked blindside to score in the corner. The conversion was missed and Guyana led five to zero.

Ten minutes later, and after a long succession of possession, Cayman were awarded a penalty which Guillame Hammersley duly slotted, bringing the score to five to three in Guyana’s favour at the half.

In the second half Cayman continued to dominate possession with a very solid scrummage and line out and deft passing in the three quarter line of Michael Willson, Joel Clark, Matthew Glidden and Bryan Martins to bring their back three of Hammersley, Justin Vasquez and Michael Manderson through the Guyanese defensive line continually.

The back row of Edward Westin, Eric Arch and Matthew Hale was in good evidence and maintained possession in the loose while the tight five of Jonathan Jorge, Daniel McGrath, Stephan Chin, Taron Forbes and Garrett Connolly counter rucked with extreme success turning over numerous possessions.

It was Westin who after a series of latch and drive players close to the Guyana line put the Cayman Islands into the lead with a well taken try ten minutes into the second half. Hammersley missed the conversion and Cayman led eight points to five. Six minutes later Cayman were awarded a second penalty wide out, but Hammersley made no mistake this time and Cayman took a five-point lead at eight to three.

From the ensuing kick off the ball was knocked on deep in the Cayman half and from the resultant scrummage the big Guyanese number eight broke through the Cayman defence to score and tie the match eight points a piece.

Guyana converted the kick to go ahead 10 points to eight. From here it was all Cayman as they applied pressure constantly for the final twenty minutes of the match determined not to let this game slip away.

It was Matthew Hale from a set piece penalty play ten meters from the Guyana line who again gave Cayman the lead and Hammersley duly converted giving Cayman 15 to 10 point lead. Ten minutes from time Cayman were awarded a further penalty, which Hammersley converted taking Cayman to the critical lead of 18 points to 10 meaning Guyana had to score twice. Guyana and Cayman swapped penalty goals in the last ten to finish up with Cayman leading 21 to 13.

Cayman will face Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, (today) at 3:00 pm while Barbados will face Mexico. The Finals are on Saturday, 12 July.