Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

THE VAUXHALL Vultures outpaced the Duhaney Park Sharks 22-16 as preseason play in the inaugural Jamaica Rugby League continued on Wednesday at the Sherwin Williams Mini-stadium in Duhaney Park.

Led by tries, from Stetson Ebanks, Hector Bourne and Carlyle Burger and a goal and penalty from Kemar Gray, the Vultures at times looked unstoppable in the open field as they used their blistering pace to good effect. Despite going behind early in the game, they rallied to take the lead by halftime and never surrendered it despite a spirited second half by the home team Sharks.

This was the final opportunity for the teams to test their skills under game-like conditions ahead of the start of the season next week Saturday at the same venue. Jamaica, which officially joined the rugby league playing nations of the world last Wednesday with its first organised and sanctioned game, has also been ground-breaking in terms of organisation of the sport in the Caribbean.

The director of rugby league operations in the region, Paul Morris, believes that Jamaica should prove to be a fertile ground for the sport's development.

"So far the reaction of the spectators has been great, they are very responsive to the pace and hard-hitting nature of the game. The huge speedy athletes that some of these teams have generate a lot of interest and excitement." Morris said.

The first league season will see six teams in action: the Vultures, Sharks, JDF, Police, Nomads and the Olympic Angels.