The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second consecutive season, Cuckoos RFC claimed the ultimate prize of the Bahamas Rugby Football Union - the Heineken Bahamas Cup.

At the Winton Rugby Centre, Cuckoos delivered a dominant performance in the finale with a 35-12 win over the Buccaneers RFC on Saturday to close out the season in a rematch of last year’s championship.

Brian Baker’s penalty kick gave the Cuckoos an early advantage and they led wire-to-wire en route to the win.

Team captain Kevin Deveaux scored the hat trick with three tries to lead his team to the title. Charles Richardson and Charles Smith also added tries.

T’Quan Blyden was named the Most Valuable Player. Cuckoos wing Ashley Roberts said the team effort led to the win.

“It was team rugby and that’s how rugby should be played. No one was selfish out there, guys hit, guys supported, guys passed and once someone was given the opportunity they made the best with what they could do. Fortunately for us just about everything worked in our favour,” he said. “The important thing is that it was all about the team.”

Cuckoos finished the season at 9-2 and were ranked No.1 headed into the playoffs and received an automatic bye while the Bucs were ranked No.4 and beat out Freeport RFC and Baillou to reach the final.

It was a role reversal from the 2016 playoffs when Cuckoos overcame an up and down season and ended the year with a pair of last second wins to claim the coveted Heineken Bahamas Cup.

Baker’s game winning kick in extra time gave Cuckoos a 13-10 win over Bucs for the title.

In 2015 Buccaneers defeated Freeport 18-7 to claim the cup.

Since 2012, Heineken and the BRFU partnered to rename the Annual Bahamas Rugby Cup as the Heineken Bahamas Rugby Cup, and the brewing company now also provides branding, marketing and advertising support.

Cuckoos also captured the first two editions of the renamed event in 2012 and 2013, while Baillou took the cup in 2014.

“Bahamas Rugby is again extremely grateful to all our friends and supporters who have been with us through the season,” said BRFU executive Elystan Miles in a press release, “We are particularly grateful to our sponsors and partners, too numerous to mention. However Heineken and Bahamas Waste have been the backbone to Bahamas Rugby for another year and deserve a specific expression of gratitude.”

The BRFU is taking a break over Easter but will be back at the end of April when they will be focusing on the national team.