With day 1 of the NAWIRA U-19’s Caribbean Championships over and the seven competing nations split into the Cup and Bowl competitions as a result of the wins and losses from the opening matches, the first game of the bowl competition kicked off at 430pm local time on the South Sound Rugby Ground with Bermuda taking on the Bahamas. It was anyone’s guess as to which team would earn their first win of the tournament as both teams had done admirably well against bigger, stronger and more experienced adversaries in their opening games against Jamaica and Mexico.
Both Bermuda and Bahamas are competition newbies so the game promised to be a close affair.
Bermuda however broke that promise from the outset. Within 15 minutes Bermuda were 11 points clear of the Bahamas thanks to an early penalty and a total mismatch in size and strength on the field. Bermudan behemoth prop Brynley Toms earning Bermuda’s first try with a bulldozing run through the Bahamian pack which was unconverted and then followed by another cleanly taken penalty.
It was quickly becoming clear that unless the Bahamas changed their style of play Bermuda would simply use their size to pile on points and the Bahamas would have the unenviable task of a chasing an ever growing points tally for the rest of the game.
Bahamas were not without their own advantages on the field, indeed the Bahamian backline is one of the quickest in the competition and their flay half adept with the boot when given space but with the Bermudan pack averaging an advantage of 6 inches in height and 10 lbs in weight per forward it was to the bewilderment of the spectators that the Bahamas were drawn into a battle of strength as opposed to a battle of speed and guile. The Bahamian chant of “what it is? Easy!!” became almost laughable as the game drew on when it clearly dawned on the team that nothing is easy when you make it hard for yourselves.
Bermuda rung in the half time whistle after more bullying from the Bermudan pack allowed quick distribution out wide for the tall Bermudan inside centre Mark James to score again and bring up the half time score of 16-0.
The second half was much the same as the first with Bermuda dictating the pace of the game and winning back any lost ball through their pack but it was little wonder why the Bahamas came into the 2nd half playing the exact same game as the first?! The Bahamas were not without opportunity to play the ball thanks to numerous unforced errors from the Bermudan back line but at every opportunity afforded the Bahamians they ran into the bigger Bermudans in isolation and allowed easy turnovers.
When not gifting the ball to the Bermudans at the breakdown the Bahamians chose to kick the ball downfield into the waiting arms of Bermudan full back Rory Kelly who, when given time to spot the numerous gaps in the Bahamian back line could pick and chose where he wanted to score.
As the points piled on for Bermuda the final nail in the coffin was hit when Bermudan scrum half, Shauntino Simmons added to his ever increasing points tally by taking a quick tap penalty whilst the entire Bahamas team watched intently at what looked to be a small scuffle breaking out at the bottom of a ruck. Simmons ran unscathed 50 yards up the field and at one stage almost stopped to check with the referee that he was okay to continue on! With Simmons’ final points on the board the final score was 31-0 to Bermuda.
Bermuda, now face 2 time champions Guyana in their quest for the bowl and Bahamas will have to erase the memory of the game and build on their much stronger showing against Jamaica in their final upcoming match against Guyana in the round robin bowl competition.
