Sunday, 21th June 2009Cayman & T&T women ease through round one
Cayman & T&T record sound victories on Day 1 of Championships
Cayman Island and Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) both eased through the first round of the 2009 Women's 15 a-side Caribbean Championhips. Cayman Islands scored an emphatic 54-3 victory over hosts Barbados while T&T scored a record women's Caribbean points record in their 90-0 win over St Vincent & The Grenadines.
Centre Olive McDonough scored a hatrick of tries and two conversions to lead Cayman to it's highest ever points victotry in women's rugby. No. 8 Jessica Lane chipped in with a brace of tries, with Lolitta Hanscough, Lisa Bird and Lisa Kehoe all adding to the try tally. From the start it was all pretty much one way traffic, with centre McDonough steeling the show with two 40 yard breaks.
The decision to switch Hart from back row to centre proved successful as she continously broke the gain line to set up her outside backs. British Police player Jessica Lane, Cayman's 2008 MVP continued with her charging runs to good effect.
While Cayman sounded an early warning signal to current Caribbean champions T&T, the Calypso Warriors responded with devasting effect with 16 tries. Fly half Julianna Straker, the 2008 T&T MVP continued to orchestrate proceedings either individual, scoring two tries, or setting up centre Kwanieze John for her four. Star of the show however was No. 8 Jenilee Limada who crossed over six times and seemed unstoppable at times. The passing, fleet of foot, angles of run and pace at which T&T attacked the St. Vincent line was a joy to watch.
St Vincent, despite suffering injuries throughout never gave up the cause and although giving their all, were totally outplayed from the start.
Unless a major upset happens in round two on Wednesday, it looks likes Saturdays match between Cayman and Trinidad & Tobago will be the decider. Both teams appear evenly matched with strengths in similar departments. All said and done, it should prove a match worth waiting for.
