Jamaica rally to lift rugby title

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Jamaica made a remarkable recovery to emerge 2006 Caribbean Women's Rugby 15's champions after scoring an impressive 27-0 win over last year's winners Trinidad & Tobago at the University of West Indies, Mona Bowl.

Despite finishing on five points, the same as Guyana who defeated them 6-5 in last Thursday's opening game; and Trinidad & Tobago, who beat Guyana 15-8 last Saturday, the Jamaican girls secured the title with a superior goal difference, +26 against Guyana's -6 and Trinidad & Tobago's -20.

In a dominant display the Jamaicans girls - who led 10-0 at the half - was led by Kadian Gayle, who scored tries in either halves. Gayle's tries came in the 32nd and 80th minutes of play.

Sherene Johnson (40th), Mitsy Stewart (44th) and Annakay Morris (62nd) also scored tries. Morris also scored a penalty.

Jamaica's coach Victory Hyde said they studied the Trinidad & Tobago team and found the weakness.

"Their strength lies with their wingers and we instructed our wingers not to give them any room. It was good today.

"Team work, defending, attacking, communication with each other," were some of the things Hyde said went well for them yesterday.

Hyde also said it was hard to motivate his players after they were booted from their hotel last Saturday.

However, he said after the story broke on the news, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who is also the Sports Minister, stepped in and cleared all their hotel bills, allowing them back in the hotel.

Trinidad & Tobago's coach, Kitty Andrews, said her girls lost the game because of some loose play.

"I think we were the better team, I think we were more technically sound, but I think we lost it on the loose plays," she said.

She also believes her team helped to lift Jamaica's game.

"When you play a weak side it weakens your game, when you play a technically strong side it lifts your game and I think that's what happened with the Jamaicans tonight. I think we were able to lift their game," she said amidst clarifications that Jamaica is not a weak team.