A much improved Bermuda men's rugby team lost 18-10 to Cayman Islands in a Rugby Americas North encounter in George Town on Friday night.

Brian Archibald’s side matched Cayman’s physicality for most of the match in a better display than when they lost 44-12 at National Sports Centre in May 2024.

“I think when we look back on it, we will probably say it's a match that we lost rather than they won,” the Bermuda coach told The Royal Gazette.

“Our defensive commitment and pressure we put on them created a lot of turnovers, but we didn't really get our own attack going to take advantage of the turnovers, especially the second half.

“I believe if we worked a little harder off the ball and were more patient in attack, we might have created more chances and maybe played more of the game.

“Going forward, the players need to continue to train with the clubs as much as possible and work on improving the basic skills. The more games the players have at this level will help to increase their decision-making during the game.”

Cayman scored two tries, one conversion and penalty goal to secure the win at Truman Bodden Sports Complex and Bermuda got their points from a converted try and a penalty.

Fly half Harry Clark drew first blood for Cayman nine minutes into the match when he kicked three points but a try from flanker Khabir Dill and conversion by Ja'kee Simons put Bermuda 7-3 in front.

Cayman took an 8-7 lead heading into the break courtesy of Tommy Kehoe’s try before the conversion bounced off the posts.

At the start of the second half, Bermuda tryscorer Dill was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes, during which Clark added his second penalty of the night for Cayman to lead 11-7.

Even with a man down, the Bermudians refused to back down as they reduced the deficit with a Hadleigh Tucker penalty.

But a loose pass from Bermuda in their own 22 was pounced on by Michael Wilson, who went over the line for Edward Westin to add the extras with a successful conversion.

Just as Bermuda were looking to mount a fightback in the dying minutes of the match, Greenville Lines was shown a red card for foul play.

Bermuda women also impressed in a 47-37 loss to their Cayman counterparts in a ten-a-side match. Apryl Jackson had a hat-trick of tries, Nya Heyliger scored twice, and Heidi Groves chipped in with a try and conversion.

On Saturday, the Bermudians triumphed 34-25. Groves crossed the whitewash twice, Sarah Cross, Akila Craig and Kelli Nusum notched a try each, while Cross also contributed two conversions. It was the first time that the team, under the mentorship of Alvin Harvey and Deneka Borden, had played in this format at international level.

Shane Reardon picked up two tries, Cole Graham went over the whitewash once and Cillian McGlynn booted in three conversions in the Bermuda Under-14 boys’ 55-21 loss to Cayman. On Thursday, playing their first 15-a-side match, they narrowly went down 33-28.

The boys fought to score four tries in a 25-20 defeat to their Cayman counterparts. On Saturday, the same side went down 30-15.

Zaria Codrington scored two tries for the Bermuda Under-14 girls in the 24-10 defeat to the home team.