By Mark Robson From Cayman Rugby

(CRFU): The Cayman Pirates left these shores last weekend in search of gold and glory and found both with an outstanding win in the Fort Lauderdale Ruggerfest Touch Tournament 2014. This merry band of 12 marauders beat all-comers and played some fast and furious Touch, a game similar to Rugby League in that each team get six attempts to move the ball up the field and score a try. It is a game for fast hands, fast feet and quick thinking and the Cayman Pirates had all of these a-plenty.

Sponsored by Trident Trust and captained by Morgan Shelver this team has been working hard on the training paddock and it all paid off as they went through the tournament undefeated. Playing against teams from Orlando, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, the Cayman Pirates showed that when it comes to pillaging and plundering tries then the real Captain Morgan would have been proud of Cayman’s 2014 version.

In their first game, Cayman gave Orlando a lesson in how to move, switch and score winning 7-3. Tries were spread out across the team sending a message to forthcoming opponents that this team was like a multi-headed serpent striking from anywhere on the pitch.

Next up was Fort Lauderdale who offered a greater challenge and threatened Cayman on several occasions but it was Riley Mullen, Cayman’s own little Billy Whizz that started to show a clean pair of heels to the opposition. He scored three of Cayman’s tries in an ill-tempered affair, eventually running out 4-1 winners.

Game 3 saw West Palm Beach offer the stiffest challenge to the Pirates. It was Captain Morgan who led from the front in this one as he rallied his troops. He scored two tries as did Neal Ainscow, with Riley Mullen adding a fifth. But it was great defence by the whole team that gained the win – 5-3.

Undefeated, the Cayman Pirates headed into the semi-final where they cruised to an easy win over Orlando. Mullen, feasting on the carcass of an Orlando defence, he gobbled up 5 tries all by himself and secured a place in the Final. Some of his most delicious tries were served up on a plate by fine passing and handling by Shelver, Marc Randall and Brandon Smith.

And so to the Grand Final. Captain Morgan and his Pirates would have liked to take a long easy walk all over West Palm Beach but nothing could be further from the truth. The Beach put up a fine performance and by full time the scores were tied at 4-4. Mullen had weighed in with a brace in the first half along with one from Nic Swartz. Brad Stephenson added a fourth in the second half but West Palm Beach would not lie down. It was into sudden-death overtime and a case of who could hold their nerve. On this day, it was the Cayman Pirates.

Their first attack was squashed but their defence held strong as West Palm assaulted the barricades. As Cayman moved the ball left and right it appeared that their next attack would falter until Neal Ainscow saw a gap and like a greasy rat up a drainpipe he slipped through to score the winner. The large crowd cheered and Cayman celebrated as Fort Lauderdale Ruggerfest Touch Champions 2014.

Riley Mullen was rightly crowned Most Valuable Player of the tournament but he would be the first to agree that Touch is a team game and that the whole squad was vital for the victory.

Tour Organizer Chandra Friesen said, “Touch is one of the fastest growing team sports in Cayman and we loved the chance to experience playing other teams from overseas. It was a challenge which we enjoyed and bringing back the trophy is even better!”

Full Squad – Morgan Shelver (cpt), Neal Ainscow, Marc Randall, Nic Swartz, Richie Gordon, Brad Stephenson, Riley Mullen, Brandon Smith, Guy Major, Chandra Friesen, Jax McCarty, Evelyn Ritch.

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PHOTO: CRFU Cover Photo Caroline Deegan Photography

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National touch champs start with a bang

By Mark Robson From Cayman Rugby

(CRFU): The National Touch Rugby Championships 2014 started in earnest with six teams entering this year and it promises to be the highest standard of Touch played here in Cayman. Similar to Rugby League in that each team get six attempts to move the ball up the field and score a try. The opposition, instead of tackling the ball carrier, simply makes a “touch” to halt that phase of play. If the team in possession cannot score within their six allocated “touches” the ball is turned over to the opposition.

It is the simplicity of the game mixed with the speed of ball-in-hand and fast pace that makes it so attractive to guys and girls. Playing in mixed teams, each team has a roster of 14 players but only six (three men, three women) can be on the pitch at any one time.

The stand-out game was the mouthwatering clash between two teams who have ascended to the top of Touch in this country in recent times. SteppingStones against Island Air always gets the pulse racing in anticipation of a great spectacle of sport and they didn’t disappoint. It was SteppingStones who drew first blood with a dominant first-half performance.

Out of the blocks faster than Speedy Gonzalez hopped up on a heady cocktail of Red Bull, rocket fuel and Ritalin the ‘Stones caught Island Air cold. Early scores for Simon Raftopolous, Rudolf Weder, and Chris Brussow rocked the “Fly Boys” who were missing some key play-makers in the first half. If Island Air wants to be the Top Gun in this Division then they are going to need to get up to Mach 1 quicker than they did in this game. Shorn of numbers through injury and absence they were shot down by the blitz attack from SteppingStones.

Weder was lightning quick, Brussow “elusivity” personified, and Raftopolous side-stepped so often that I doubt even he knew which way he was going – more importantly though, neither did the defenders. When Jax McCarty made it 5-1 at the half all the pre-game hype seemed a little over blown. Enter Neil “Iceman” Ainscow.

Like a thinner and less good looking version of Val Kilmer, Iceman got the wrong kick-off time but did much to turn round his team’s fortunes. Island Air started to soar through their elaborate manoeuvres and Nic “Maverick” Swartz got one back, followed by two quick touchdowns from Chandra “Cougar” Friesen. As spirited as the comeback was,

SteppingStones were confident that they could score enough to seal the victory. Raftopolous and Brussow added to their personal tally and the solar-powered Morgan Shelver, often the driving force behind the team, scored to make it a South African whitewash on the scoresheet. Kramer “Wolfman” Bell finished the game off with a fine solo effort. It was an 8-5 win to SteppingStones. Island Air’s Captain, Brad “Goose” Stephenson, had to admit that, on this occasion, his goose was well and truly cooked. If he can take anything away from this first outing it must be that Island Air won the second half. Perhaps he should send The Iceman a reminder to get to the game on time next week!

The undercard to this main match saw Heineken Brew Crew defeat KPMG 7-1. Heineken are traditionally a mix of old and new, of experience and youth and, against a very-raw KPMG team, they barely needed to get out of second gear. Big Phill Thompson, large of frame and long of gait, scored a hat-trick of tries whilst the Wild Westin boys, Eddie and Mark, each weighed in with one a-piece. Lisa Kehoe, in her four hundredth touch season must have supped from the Fountain of Youth many years ago as she continued to bewitch and bedazzle the defence with a series of side-steps, swivels and show-and-go’s. Her try just after half-time was fine reward for her efforts. She probably went for an eleven mile run just to warm down.

The other try was scored by Alex Pineau, a fearsome lion on the pitch, but purring pussycat off it.  Kevin Brett scored for KPMG who battled hard to the end. Many of their players are new to the game and this season will be a baptism of fire to them. They are largely drawn from staff at the eponymous accountancy firm and it’s great to have new people involved.

The last game of the day saw a battle royal between Maples and Maples Reserves – an interesting rivalry between two teams that may look similar in name but were far from similar on the pitch. Maples played a solid game and had a large amount of possession but Maples Reserves got 17 lucky breakaway tries to win the match 17-1. In truth, the somewhat-ironically named “Reserves” had flair, finesse, speed and stamina and simply blew away Maples. They boast a strong roster of established players from the Cayman Leagues but it was new recruit Jane Hyde-Smith who was the stand-out player. New to the island, it is reported that Hyde-Smith represented Australia at Touch and her class with ball-in-hand was evident from the go-get. Soft hands allowed for subtle passes and she was pivotal in much of the Reserves better moments. Ably supported by the elfin-like Riley Mullen, the ‘Reserves seemed to score every time they got the ball and Mullen tallied up a generous seven tries.

The score line may look harsh at first glance but Maples will be glad they have got their kick-off technique down to a fine art (very few teams get THAT much practice) and can now concentrate on other aspects of their game such as defence and attack. They showed real intestinal fortitude to keep going and crossed the line several times only to be thwarted by a desperate last-ditch “touch” from a defender.

Eventually Paul “Barrel” Johnson opened the account for Maples and the Reserves feared a comeback of epic proportions. Sadly none came. Maples can and will have better days. Maples Reserves have plenty in the tank and could be the dark horses in this year’s Championships – perhaps they would have been better named as Maples’ Mercenaries?