The Queensgate Pigs Trotters’ three game winning streak was brought to an abrupt end by the John Doak Architecture Iguanas who, through an improved scrum performance and a tight back line defense, limited the usually free scoring opponents to 12 points – all from the boot of scrum-half Robbie Cribb.
The Iguanas front five managed to turn over a number of Trotters scrums and whilst neither team had a firm grip on their own line outs, it was still the Iguanas who managed to be more productive with their own ball. Iguanas won 22-12.
Whilst the Iguanas crossed the try line more than once – importantly in the closing stages by scrum-half Kramer Bell – to deny the Trotters a vital losing bonus point, they were disappointed they allowed Cribb’s kicking to keep the Trotters in contention and will look to stop the indiscipline in their own half in future.
The 10 point loss to the Iguanas sees the Trotters drop down into second place on the league standings whilst the Iguanas jump into first place with a slim one point lead.
Whilst the Pigs-Iguanas game caused the movement in the league table it was the second fixture of the day between the Fidelity Cayman Storm and the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers which raised the most eyebrows in the local rugby community.
With the Buccaneers looking to bounce back from their heavy loss to the Iguanas the week previous and the Storm hoping to build on promising periods in all of their three losses so far this season, it was the Buccaneers who looked to have the game under control in the early exchanges and were leading 12-0 before Claudio Sarfati marched past Richard “Grizz” Adams for the Storms opening score.
The Storm scored again to level the scores 12-12 and the real battle for dominance ensued. Nerves jangled as the teams exchanged kickable penalties but neither kicker could secure points as Michael Sumares hit the posts and Morgan Shelver’s long range attempt sailed wide.
The teams traded scores once more but Shelver secured his conversion to give the Buccaneers a slender two point lead whilst the Storm’s kick once again missed its target.
As the clock ran down, it appeared that the Buccaneers had the game all but sewn up before a late yellow card to Buccaneers meant that the Storm had a numbers advantage going into the final seconds and the Buccaneers, desperate to secure the ball, committed a series of infringements after the clock had gone dead to put the Storm in kickable range.
Trailing by two points, the three point penalty kick would have given the Storm their first win of the season and probably ended the Buccaneers’ hopes of a run at the league trophy but once again the routine kick was sent wide of the posts and the game was over for the Storm and the Buccaneers breathed a heavy sigh of relief as they won 19-17.
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday Mar. 8
John Doak Architecture Iguanas v Advance Fire & Plumbing Buccaneers 3 p.m. kick off
Fidelity Cayman Storm v Queensgate Pigs Trotters 4:45 p.m. Kick off
Games are free to watch at the South Sound Rugby Ground or online at www.caymanrugby.com.
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