Curacao 2002

Barbados whups Curaçao 41-3, Barbados Rugby Football Union exults!

Barbados whups Curaçao 41-3, Barbados Rugby Football Union exults!

Curacao 2002

In front of a vociferous crowd in excess of 350 supporters, in the middle of the Historic Garrison Savannah, the young “Lions” of the Barbados Rugby Team, resplendent in new kit sponsored by Banks, Rubis and DHL, took on and beat Curaçao in convincing style to progress into Round 3 of the NACRA Caribbean Championships 2013.

Smaller, physically, than their opponents and with an average age of 22 years, Barbados started the game nervously in hot and windy conditions.

A missed penalty was the only chance in the first 20 minutes for either side to put points on the board. Then Barbados, from a solid drive from the forwards, moved into the heart of the Curaçao half and linked with the speedy backs to spin the ball wide. A dummy run from Nicholas Jackman distracting the Curaçao defence gave Sean Ward the opportunity to hand off his tackler and round two more defenders and score Barbados first points.
A missed penalty was the only chance in the first 20 minutes for either side to put points on the board. Then Barbados, from a solid drive from the forwards, moved into the heart of the Curaçao half and linked with the speedy backs to spin the ball wide. A dummy run from Nicholas Jackman distracting the Curaçao defence gave Sean Ward the opportunity to hand off his tackler and round two more defenders and score Barbados first points.

This score was soon followed by a try from Nico Blunt, created by an injection of pace and interjection of fullback Rondel “Rapta” Cumberbatch into the line to create the overlap on 26 minutes.

The first half closed with some Barbados mishandling resulting in a scrum and attack pressure from Curaçao forwards threatening to score on Barbados goal line. A strong counter-ruck from Barbados forwards and turn-over by Christian Preece won the ball back on the goal line, the ball was swiftly passed through the backs, who ran the full length of the field and were only denied a score by Curaçao killing the ball on their goal line. The effort was rewarded, however from the resulting penalty when Neil Forde crashed through Curaçao defence and scored a try to close out the first half three scores ahead 15 – 0.

The second half got underway with Curaçao, with the slight wind advantage, pinning Barbados in their own half with intelligent kicking. It wasn’t until the 56th minute that Barbados threatened again, with Nicholas Jackman bursting through the Curaçao back line and receiving good support from the forward resulting in a drive to the line and touch down by Dwight Forde.

With credit to Curaçao and their never-give-up attitude, they threatened the Barbados line twice more in the half, but the Barbados fitness and conditioning told and with ferocious tackling, they were repelled from crossing the line and receive a solitary penalty goal for all their efforts.
With credit to Curaçao and their never-give-up attitude, they threatened the Barbados line twice more in the half, but the Barbados fitness and conditioning told and with ferocious tackling, they were repelled from crossing the line and receive a solitary penalty goal for all their efforts.

Further converted tries from Man of the Match Christian Preece, Philip Lucas and Kevin “Shakira” Carter rounded of a very satisfying and convincing afternoon’s rugby and final score of 41 – 3.

On the final whistle and after the opposition handshakes, the team lined up and crossed the field to great applause and appreciation from the large supporting crowd.

After the match, Coach Stuart Copeland commented that he was delighted with the win and gave credit to the 33 players in the squad and 22 players on the day for making great efforts to get fit and conditioned and playing with courage, heart and discipline to see off good opposition.

Barbados can now look forward in May to hosting Trinidad and Tobago, and then travelling to Guyana to play for the title of Southern Caribbean Champions.

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