The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Rugby Football Union’s national team suffered yet another loss in the Americas North zone of the Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification process.

Following a 39-3 loss to Mexico earlier this month, the scoring woes continued Saturday as the Bahamas managed a single try in a 20-8 loss to the Cayman Islands in George Town, Cayman.

Despite the final score, it was a fairly competitive and penalty-filled match that saw the Bahamas unable to recover from an early deficit.

As they did against Mexico, the Bahamas missed an opportunity to score first when Brian Baker missed a conversion and Cayman seized momentum when Venasio Tokatokavanua scored the opening try less than two minutes later. Hanson Shaw converted the extra point to give Cayman a 7-0 lead.

A play that seemed to give the Bahamas new life wound up costing them the services of a key player as Connor Albury suffered a broken leg just short of the try line.

Albury took an opening on the sideline and extended the ball for what looked to be a sure try only to have it knocked out of bounds at the last minute by a Cayman defender.

The momentum shifted back to Cayman  as they dominated the remainder of the half. Shaw converted a kick and Andre Ormond increased the home team’s lead with a late half try to give Cayman the 15-0 advantage headed into the half.

The trend continued in the second half as it took just three minutes for Cayman’s Justin White to post another try on the scoreboard for his side. After a failed conversion they held a 20-0 lead.

The Bahamas fought tough for the remainder of the second half, but at a crucial point of the match they were unable to score with the ball inside the five metre line. The drive ended with a knockon giving the ball back to the Cayman Islands.

Ten minutes after their failed attempt, the Bahamas was able to get on the scoreboard for the first time when Mark Hammertoe took advantage of an unorganised Cayman defence to trim the deficit 20-5.

Baker made a 35-yard field goal for the game’s final mark.

In other Rugby Americas North scores on the afternoon, Mexico topped Bermuda 75-10, Guyana defeated Jamaica 23-5 and Trinidad and Tobago dominated Barbados 39-5.

The Bahamas has lost both group matches so far and have mathematically been eliminated from advancing to the second stage of the tournament.

In their final match of the RAN zone championship, the Bahamas will travel to face Bermuda on June 4.