Caribbean Sports Network

CARIBS RFC looks the team to beat in the 2010 Toyota Championship Division League as they defeated Northern for the second time in one week. Caribs beat Northern 20-16 to win the Robert Farfan Memorial Cup last week in the traditional season opener and continued their domination over their rivals this weekend with another impressive performance. Northern, however, started in the ascendancy but place kicker Justin McLean missed two golden opportunities in the opening 15 minutes. Caribs’ Kendall Mootoo made no mistake when granted his chance, however, to give his team a 3-0 lead in the 26th minute. Two minutes later, McLean had another chance but from a difficult angle and missed again.

The match balanced with both teams sharing equal possession. Northern’s out-half James Walkins and Jonathan O’Connor were linking well together to swing the ball out of the back-line. Walkins tactical kicking pinned Caribs in their half but they were hardly able to capitalise by winning opposition line-out.

Caribs, on the other hand seemed willing to keep the ball in hand which paid dividends on the stroke of half-time when Brendan O’Farrell and winger Ronald Silverthorne linked up to score a try from a move that started in their own half.

O’Farrell broke through the gap before passing to Silverthorne who chipped the ball over opposition winger Nyeon Franco and kicked ahead on the half volley after an unfavourable bounce before willing the ball back into his hands to score the game’s first try.

A late tackle from Gordon Dalgleish ensured that the try was Silverthorne’s last contribution to the match as he came off injured. Dalgleish was cast in the sin bin.

Mootoo maintained his good kicking form with a conversion to put Caribs ahead 10-0 at the end of the opening period.

On the resumption, Caribs continued their open style of play and veteran O’Farrell handled the ball three times in a single passage of play before he squeezed a grubber kick to the left corner for Brendan Daniel to pick up and score a try which was not converted.

Meanwhile, Northern brought on the powerful but experienced pair of Brad Soulette and Rhett Cheeping to reestablish their advantage in the scrimmage. Caribs countered with their own heavyweight Samoan Lafael Enoke as well as veteran Blaine Cheeping.

Northern was able to score after a sustained period of pressure with Richard Staglon bursting through the Caribs defence to score. McLean finally got his kicking right as the game ended 15-7 in favour of Caribs.

In other Championship matches, Harvard Club beat Rainbow Sports and Cultural Club 19-12 while in the second division Rainbow II defeated UWI RFC 50-19.