NACRA DHL SEVENS CHAMPIONSHIPS
BARBADOS
NOVEMBER 12 /13, 2011
USA Rugby South made its best showing ever, the men winning the Bowl (for those knocked out in the first round of play) and our women’s team placed fourth. A credit to both teams who welded together very quickly and to manager Rene Daniel and coach Julie McCoy for the men and Mike Mays guiding the women..
The teams had assembled from Wednesday to prepare but nothing prepared them for Saturday as a tropical depression hit the island with gale force storms and continuous rain which turned the field into a swamp.
Day 1:
Undeterred by conditions our women went 4 and 0 in their group convincingly beating St Lucia, Barbados, Mexico, and the much fancied Guyana, with well won ball at all phases and strong runners. The squad (reduced to 9 through injuries and commitments) played for each other and played sensible keep ball outscoring opponents 81 -14.
The men had very a tough draw with Mexico (third place),Cayman (eventual semi-finalists) and Bermuda in their group. A last gasp try from Cayman saw South lose their opening game. Next up was a quick and agile Mexican team fresh from a successful Pan American Games, South taking them all the way until being narrowly defeated .
Regrouping, it was hoped that by defeating Bermuda in game 3 we could sneak into the next stage with 1-2. However with Cayman and Mexico going 3 and 0 it was not to be as another one score excruciatingly close game was lost.
Day 2:
Saw sunshine and more typical Barbados weather but unfortunately the storm had left its mark and both pitches were a quagmire. Fast open play was at a premium as teams got bogged down in the morass but still some very open and entertaining play was evident despite the conditions.
The men threw off their previous days disappointment, knuckled down and knitted together to successively beat St Vincent BVI and Bermuda (revenge) to claim the bowl in good style.
The women carried on from the day before beating Cayman 34-0 in the quarter final of the main competition before running into a very strong free and fast running Jamaican team. Next up was Trinidad & Tobago (with some equally fast runners ) who took third place leaving South a very creditable fourth.
Tournament Summary:
With 16 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams this was the largest tournament ever and the first hosted by the Barbados Union who did an exceptional job both on and off the field with great logistics and commitment to making everyone feel welcome.
New members Curacao brought a men’s team to join squads from Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos, and USA South made its first appearance for some years. Notable absentees were Bahamas.
The smaller but growing women’s division included Barbados, Canada, Cayman, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, and USA Rugby South.
This was one more step in the increasing engagement with NACRA by USA South following the men’s games v Mexico and Jamaica.
Women:
Liz Carrier – New Orleans WRFC
Julie Freese – Columbia WRFC
Kimberly Knipe – Georgia Southern U
Miranda Labone – Clemson U
Dana Meschisi – Florida State U
Kari Morrison – Atlanta WRFC
Hannah Price – Clemson U
Kayla Propes – Clemson U
Becky Urion – Orlando WRFC
Coach/Manager – Michael Mays
The South Women finished with a record of 5-2 for the tournament. Finishing 4th overall.
South 19-7 St. Lucia
South 19-0 Mexico
South 14-7 Guyana
South 29-0 Barbados
South 31-0 Cayman Islands
South 5-26 Jamaica
South 10-14 T&T
PF-130
PA-47
Men:
Jeff Reuther (c) New Orleans RFC
Eric West New Orleans RFC
Chance Doyle New Orleans RFC
Matt Hughston East Carolina
Bobby Allen East Carolina
Justin Bourgeious East Carolina
Jonathan Nowakowski Life U
Brendan Gray Boca Raton/South Africa U21
Mark Fulmer Little Rock RFC
Sean Lawrence Fort Lauderdale RFC
Uki Deane Duke U.
Charley Smith Tampa Bay RFC
Coach – Julie McCoy
Asst – Ellie Karvoski
Manager – Rene Daniel
Trainer – Sean Borman
South 14 Cayman 19
South 7 Mexico 17
South 7 Bermuda 17
South 26 St Vincent 0
South 33 BVI 5
South 26 Bermuda 14
FINAL PLACINGS MEN:
1. Guyana
2. Cayman Islands
3. Mexico
4. Jamaica
5. Trinidad & Tobago (Plate Winner)
6. Guadeloupe
7. Martinique
8. St Lucia
9. USA Rugby South (Bowl Winner)
10. Bermuda
11. British Virgin Islands
12. Curacao
13. Turks & Caicos Islands (Shield Winner)
14. St Vincent & The Grenadines
15. Barbados
FINAL PLACINGS WOMEN:
1. Canadian Maple Leafs
2. Jamaica (Caribbean Champions)
3. Trinidad & Tobago
4. USA Rugby South
5. Guyana (Plate Winner)
6. St Lucia
7. Mexico
8. Cayman Islands
9. Barbados
10. Guadeloupe
11. St Vincent & The Grenadines
This entry was posted ... on November 22nd, 2011 at 2:04 pm by Nancy Campbell and is filed under Collegiate Men, Collegiate Women, priority, Senior Men, Senior Women. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.