[naviga:font color="BLUE"][naviga:h2]Mexico 33

Bermuda 0

Bermuda's under-19 rugby team, competing in their first ever international game, were handed a harsh lesson in the opening round of the Caribbean Championships by Mexico.

Mexico, runners-up in last years Caribbean championships, were inspired by their fly half Miguel Carner who scored a hat-trick of tries and set up the other two in this five try rout.

Bermuda, led by scrum-half Shauntino Simons were immediately under pressure from the first whistle but outstanding try line defense kept the Mexicans out.

Mexico dominated possession but the first scoring opportunity came to Bermuda when they were rewarded a penalty from wide out near the right touchline. Unfortunately Rory O'Kelly-Lynch's place kick drifted wide right and Mexico were let off the hook.

Bermuda began to use their big boys, Mark James and Brynley Toms to smash over the gain line but a Bermuda mistake led to Mexico's first score.

A Bermuda penalty kick failed to make touch and the ball was run back at an unorganized defence. Speedy Mexican fly-half Carner spotted a mismatch and ran around a Bermuda prop forward and scored under the posts.

Bermuda then had another opportunity to put points on the board but again an O'Kelly-Lynch penalty kick drifted agonizingly wide.

The forward battle was fairly even but Mexico's Carner then showed that he could be a star of the future as he made space for himself, broke through the midfield and then outpaced the full back to score a sublime 50 yard solo try.

Mexico were now growing in confidence and the first half ended with Bermuda conceding a soft try when Carner again spotted space out wide but this time fed his outside centre with a long pass who scored to make the score 19-0. Bermuda Coaches, Herbie Adderley and Anthony Cupidore clearly gave instruction to the team to get after the Mexican playmaker as the second-half started with Bermuda's captain Simons coming from an offside position and putting in a huge hit into the exposed ribs of Carner as he reached for a high pass.

Carner though had the perfect response as within two minutes he was running in his third try that effectively ended the match as a contest.

Despite the large score and the loss of pack leader Colin Campbell to injury Bermuda dug deep and the battling qualities of Marcus Symonds and Nick Chilvers came to the fore as they manfully led the rearguard effort.

Bermuda pieced together some nice phases of play but all too often lost ball in contact and got turned over. Mexico were to have the last say with that man Carner in the thick of it again.

He spotted space behind the defensive line and put in a neat kick that cruelly bounced up between three Bermuda defenders and into the on rushing hands of a fortunate Mexican player who dived in to score the final try of the game.

Bermuda will face Bahamas today and Guyana on Thursday in the bowl phase of the competition.