THE Bermuda Rugby Union development side just returned from a successful two-game tour to Burlington, Canada. The Bermuda National Team is playing in the Caribbean Championships in Grand Cayman in August and he trip to Canada was used as a build up to the event. The goals of the tour were to obtain game match practice and also develop a number of young Bermudian players. The squad of players included seven new young Bermudian players aged 20 and 21 who were making their first National Team Tour — James Baxter, Allan Steynor, Gareth Williams, Tom Edwards, Ian Scotton, Steve Husbands, and Neville Zuill

The opening game was played on Friday night against Burlington Rugby Club who are in the Toronto Ontario Second Division. The first 20 minutes were all Burlington. Bermuda were on the back foot but defended well. Some of Bermuda’s best rugby came just before the interval when a number of sweeping moves and strong runs from Steve Husbands on the wing nearly resulted in a try.

Bermuda pressure finally told when Ian Scotton kicked a penalty to give Bermuda a 3-0 half time lead. With a number of changes being made to the side at half time the Bermuda side lost its shape and rhythm at the start of the second half. Burlington raised their tempo and Bermuda conceded two tries in the first ten minutes of the second period. Both were unconverted to leave the score at 10-3 to the hosts. Bermuda regained their composure and started to exert some pressure in the tackle area to force a number of turnovers by the Burlington midfield. One of the turnovers resulted in Neville Zuill kicking the ball ahead. Showing a good turn of pace, Zuill scooped the ball up and dived over for a try near the posts. Ian Scotton converted the try to bring the scores level at 10 apiece.

With 15 minutes left in the game, the Bermuda forwards worked through a number of phases and produced good clean ball from which the excellent Harry Andrews forced his way over for another Bermuda try. Darragh O’Donoghue converted extending the lead to 17-10. A lack of concentration five minutes before the end of the game nearly proved costly to Bermuda when the Burlington centre was allowed to stroll through a big gap and score his side’s third try. Fortunately the conversion was missed and Bermuda clung to its narrow lead- closing the game out in the ascendance.

A final score of 17-15 to Bermuda was a good result and gave the coaching staff of Peter Shillingford and Lawrence Bird plenty to look at and work on before the next game.

Saturday’s coaching session addressed some of the problem areas identified on Friday and on Sunday afternoon, against a strong Oakville Crusaders side which included a number of Canadian Under 20 internationals, Bermuda put in a more clinical and composed performance. The young, quick, and fit Oakville side, presently sitting second in the Toronto First division, proved to be good competition for the Bermuda team.

In a very even first half Bermuda scored two very excellent tries one of which was converted by Ian Scotton. The first was from Tom Edwards who after number of well worked moves from the Bermuda backs, cut an excellent angle from the wing to score in the corner. The second score came just before half time and was scored from a catch and drive in the lineout, from which Allan Steynor forced his way over. The Bermuda team went in at half time 12-0 up. The start of the second half saw Bermuda squander an opportunity to increase their lead. Momentum shifted and Bermuda were forced to defend frantically for large parts of the second half when the adventurous Oakville side started to raise the pace of the game and throw the ball around at every opportunity. Bermuda conceded two tries one of which was converted to leave the scores level at 12 all with just over ten minutes left to go. Oakville sense the victory and upped the pressure but a resolute defensive stand by the Bermuda forwards repeatedly drove their opposite numbers back to relieve the pressure. The final whistle went with the score even at 12 all. In the end, a tie was a fair result and left both camps reasonably happy.

National team coach Peter Shillingford was pleased with the results and encouraged by the team building that took place over the weekend. In his words “the tour was a very worthwhile exercise from which both the coaching staff and players gained and learnt a lot”. In particular, Shillingford enthused about the development of the young Bermuda players who accounted for 22 out of the 29 points scored by Bermuda.

The Bermuda National team now have just over four weeks to improve their game plan and build on their fitness before traveling down to Grand Cayman on August 18th. On Monday 20th August in tournament’s first game Bermuda will be playing a very dangerous Guyana team. Competition for the coveted title of Caribbean Champion will be extremely stiff with defending champions Bahamas, Trinidad and hosts Cayman Island all fielding exceptionally strong experienced sides.