LATEST   FT BERMUDA 3 CAYMAN ISLANDS  24

From Rugby Redefined

The NACRA Championships are again in full swing this weekend , We look here at the history between Bermuda and Cayman Islands.

Bermuda face an uphill challenge this weekend with a must win game against arch rival Caymans, with the Caribbean Championship game is slated to kick off at 4pm on Saturday [June 7] at the National Sports Stadium serving as a curtain raiser for “The Big Game” involving Saracens and a Bermuda Barbarian Select team.

Cayman are opening their campaign with an away game to Bermuda who have already lost to regional powerhouses USA South 33-6. A win by Cayman will set up a winner take all encounter back in grand Cayman against USA South.

Last year Bermuda took a weakened 20 man squad down to Cayman and lost 20-10. National team Coach Roedolph Van der Westhuizen felt that in that game the Bermuda forwards were dominant but that the Bermuda backs were out classed- especially out wide. This time around Bermuda is fielding a much stronger and experienced back-line.

Starting for Bermuda in the centers are Police RFC duo Paull Davis and Tommy Edwards. Both played in the last Caribbean championship win. Bermuda will be relying on speedsters Neville Zuill and Richard Cumbers to cover out wide on the wings.

BRFU player of the year Dan Cole starts at full back and will provide solid back coverage as well as speed when joining the line in attack. Van der Westhuizen is counting on new half back pairing of Tom Healy and Phill Hall to provide the proper link between the forwards and the outside backs hopefully with the aim of keeping Bermuda on the front foot.

The forwards look even stronger than the dominant forward pack they had against Cayman last season with the addition of Dustin Archibald in the front row, who missed that game due to his red card infringement in the USA south game last season.

Tashon Desilva and big Dave Rourke who recovered from his ankle injury of last season, and Number eight and Captain Peter Dunkerley provide Bermuda 3 line-out jumping options.

This game is a do or die game for Bermuda as a loss will send them to a promotion relegation game. A much needed win will at least ensure that Bermuda have a chance of staying in the top division.

Bermuda National Team: 1 Paul Dobinson 2 Mike Williams 3 Dustin archibald 4 Dave Rourke 5 Tashon Desilva 6 Bennet Gibson 7 Thomas Greenslade 8 Peter Dunkerley 9 Tom Healy 10 Phil Hall 11 Neville Zuill 12 Paull Davis 13 Tommy Edwards 14 Rich Cumbers 15 Dan Cole

Replacements : 16 Edward Barnes 17 Jahan Cedenio 18 Darren Richardson 19 Adam Richards 20 Paul Canfield 21 Stephen Husbands 22 Corey Boyce 23 Paddy Graham

Cayman Team: Phil Fourie, Jason Scarff, Pete De Vere, Yohann Regnard, Paul Smith, Chris Kennedy (Captain), Eddie Westin, Ben Blair, Robbie Cribb, Marco Du Plessis, Alex Pineau, Josh Brown, Keswick Wright, Cueme Parker, Chris Palmer, Richard Adams, Paul Westin, Jacob MacAdam, Dan Bond, Venasio Tokatokavanua, Michael Sumares, Adam Keenan, Garrett Connolly