The Bermuda Rugby Union development side have just returned from a successful two-game tour to Burlington, Canada, winning one match and drawing the other.

The Bermuda National Team is playing in the Caribbean Championships in Grand Cayman in August and the trip to Canada was used as a build up to the event to develop a number of young Bermudian players.

The squad of players included seven new young Bermudian players aged 20-21 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.

After being on the back foot for the opening 20 minutes Bermuda started to come into the match and forced the hosts back.

Their pressure finally told when Scotton kicked a penalty to give Bermuda a 3-0 half-time lead. After the break Bermuda side lost their shape as Burlington raised their tempo and the visitors conceded two tries in the first 10 minutes of the second period. Both were unconverted to leave the score at 10-3 to the hosts.

But Bermuda hit back with a fine try from Zuill which was converted by Scotton to level the scores.

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 to give them a lead of 17-10. Burlington scored a try near the end but failed to convert and Bermuda ran out 17-15 winners.

On Sunday, Bermuda faced a strong Oakville Crusaders side who included a number of Canadian Under-20 internationals. 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 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 and Bermuda 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 they 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 12-12. Both sides pressed for another score but defences were on top and a draw was a fair result.

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 18. On Monday August 20 in tournament’s first game Bermuda will be playing a very dangerous Guyana team..