Bajans crowned rugby champions
BARBADOS are the undisputed Caribbean Rugby champions. The Bajans are the reigning South Caribbean Rugby title-holders and they underlined their regional rugby supremacy with an emphatic 52-3 victory over North Caribbean Rugby champions Bahamas. This was in the 2007 IRB/RWC Caribbean qualifier final played under lights at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saurday. Barbados launched an opening onslaught that saw them race to a 10-0 lead by 12 minutes. However, Bahamas kept their composure to cut the lead to 12-3 on a Raymond Simpson penalty conversion. A number of their players are England based and their fitness and strength are honed on a regular diet of English rugby — union or league. The benefit of that exposure to that kind of intensity week in week out proved decisive as the sharper and more efficient Barbados powered to an emphatic 31-3 half time margin. On the resumption Bahamas to their credit never dropped their heads in an uncompromising and physical encounter. Barbados would not be denied and ran in three tries all converted by Stuart Copeland to complete a clinical display and advance to the next round of the 2007 RWC qualifying with Canada and USA. Barbados: Martin Varga, Donovan Bagwell ( 69th Greg Moseley-Clarke), Greg Anstead, Matt Anstead (51st George Nicholson), Kip Blumenshein (72 Adon Rogers), Stephen Millar, Jamie Vernon, Steven Stewart, Mike Rees (72nd Denniston Shepperd), Stuart Copeland, Antonio Gibbons, Dominic Peters (69th Troy Grant), Kurt Johnson, Omar Bynoe (60th Jonathan Goddard), Barrie Green. Replacements — Greg Mosely-Clarke, Paul Mullard, Adon Rogers,George Nicholson, Troy Grant, Denniston Shepherd, Jonathan Goddard. Scorers — Tries Barrie Green, Kurt Johnson 2, Stephen Millar 2, Mike Rees, Dominic Peters, Steven Stewart. Conversions— Stuart Copeland 6). BAHAMAS: Garfield Morrision (81st Nelson Botin), Mario Rolle, Roussos Manoli (73rd Shane Garner), Marcus Cheetham (75 John Gates), Timothy Thompson (43rd Patrick Arthur), Devon Woodside (52 Jackelo Pierre), Albon Gibson, Dorian Roach, Kevin Salabie (William Pilcher), Matthew Payton, Raymond Simpson, Jeremico Cooper, Jammal Curry (78 Phillip Davis), Giovanni Rolle, Dominick Stubbs. Replacements — Shane Garner,Nelson Botin,Patrick Arthur, John Gates, Jackelo Pierre, William Pilcher, Phillip Davis. Scorer— (Penalty 12th, Raymond Simpson) Match Referee— Alan Gray (Canada),Touch Judges— Paul Mowser and Anthony Pontiflette (TT), Fourth Official— Adam Frederick (TT). Final Score— 52-3
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"Bajans crowned rugby champions"