Jamaica RLA
Juniors
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- 50
Vauxhall Vultures emulated their British twins and Super League Champions of 2004, the Leeds Rhinos, when they defeated the Duhaney Park Sharks on Saturday night and added the Jamaica Rugby League Premiership to the Globe Insurance National Rugby League title that they secured in September.
In an inaugural season that has seen a new sport introduced to Jamaica, floodlight rugby played for the first time in the communities of Kingston, the engaging of communities and individuals in the running of their own sport, and an exciting and closely fought league competition, have proved very successful, as a large enthusiastic and diverse audience gathered to witness the highlight of this first season; The Jamaica Rugby League Premiership Grand Final between Vauxhall Vultures and the Duhaney Park Sharks.
Already crowned as League Champions, the game presented the Vultures with the opportunity to make a clean sweep of all the inaugural season's top honours. Their combination of bulkiness, pace and tough tackling has been their signature for most of the season, and proved very hard to stop.
In the Duhaney Park Sharks, the Vultures faced very familiar opposition. The Sharks who, still smarting from a 20-point defeat by the Vultures, which not only prevented them from winning the league, but allowed the Vultures to do so on goal difference, were keen to spoil a possible sweep for the Windward Road team, while setting themselves up for revenge and grab their first piece of silverware for their community.
Following the recent rains and the efforts of Utah Blade and his ground staff in preparing and marking the ground, the Duhaney Park, Baldwin Crescent Stadium was in perfect condition to provide both sides with the opportunity to play hard hitting, fast and expansive rugby.
Match Officials Paul Morris (Referee) Harry Shaw and Sue Morris (Touch Judges) knew it was going to be a busy night, as straight from the kick off; Vauxhall threw down the gauntlet and having driven the ball to within inches of the Sharks line, Kemar Gray punished a moments hesitation by the Sharks, to sneak over and score the opening try after only two minutes. His subsequent conversion gave the Vultures an early 6 points to nil lead, which they were never to relinquish.
Stung by this, the Sharks responded almost immediately, their big forwards dove hard and carried the ball well as they drove the Vauxhall defence backwards. On the fifth tackle the defence was looking for a kick, but instead, front rower, Kareem Jahgroo took a loose ball and charged at the smaller Vauxhall backline and despite a determined attempt to stop him, he crashed over to reduce the difference to 6pts 4pts.
With both sides now in full flow, the game became a battle of wills, with both sides trying to physically dominate and outsmart the other. Both sides combined hard driving by the forwards with probing runs by the faster backs, only to be met by determined and often intimidating tackling.
Opportunities were scares, as determined defence and impressive counter play by both sides saw the game ebb and flow to maintain the stalemate until the twenty second minute, when having kept the ball alive for four consecutive tackles, an off load in the tackle by a Vauxhall forward allowed Mohenjo Thompson to angle a run and tear open the Sharks defence to score a try that was an introduction to the problems he was to cause the Duhaney Park defence for the remainder of the game. With Kemar Gray taking a rest on the bench, Orlando Jones took over the kicking duties to extend Vauxhalls lead to 12pts 4pts.
This proved to be the unlocking of the game, as again and again Mohenjo Thompson teased and tormented the Sharks with probing runs and quick hands to set up opportunities for both his fellow backs and big forwards. This was capitalised on by Hector Bourne, who added to Vauxhalls points tally with a try in the thirty first minute again converted by Orlando Jones.
Not to be outdone, opposite number Clifton Brown, a recent signing for the Sharks, showed he to had the ability to open up a defence, and score following a delicate side step and run which along with the successful kick by Roy Calvert reduced the deficit to 18pts-10pts just before halftime.
Halftime came as a welcome break and a chance to catch their breath for both the Match Officials and players, who were all feeling the effects of the fast and open nature of the game.
The second half started where the first had left off, as again both teams crashed into each other in an attempt to overpower and dominate the other. With the teams evenly matched, the ferocity of tackling and the pace of the game had to tell and the players started to tire quickly.
The score could not remain unchanged, and it was the Sharks who struck first as Jerry Braham crossed the line with Damon Gayle kicking the conversion bringing the Sharks to within two points at 18pts-16pts.
However, it was the men from Vauxhall who were to make the most of the growing fatigue in both sides. First Kemar Gray added to his try tally after 53 minutes and Orlando Jones stepped up to kick the extra points. This was followed by a try from pace man Odell Hymen which had the crowd on its feet to cheer him on, as he collected the ball in his own half and broke free to win a sprint race with the Sharks backs and score.
With the score now 28pts to 16pts in favour of Vauxhall and only ten minutes left, the spirited Sharks were not going to give up and rallied to put the Vultures under severe pressure, a flowing move which saw the ball move swiftly from hand to hand created an overlap wide on the wing and the new man Clifton Brown showed that he had passion as well as pace to ground the ball in the corner and cut the vultures lead to 28pts to 20pts.
With both teams now exhausted and finding it hard to gain momentum it was Vauxhall who made sure that there would be no last minute reprieve for the brave Sharks, when Jeffery Gray finished off a very impressive show by worthy winners Vauxhall Vultures with the last score of the game and clinching a 32 points to 20 points victory.
Scorers for the Vauxhall Vultures, Tries (4 pts each) Kemar Gray (2) Mohenjo Thompson, Hector Bourne, Odell Hymen, Jeffery Gray Goals: (2 Pts each) Kemar Gray, Orlando Jones (3), Total: 32 points.
Scorers for the Duhaney Park Sharks, Tries (4 pts each) Kareem Jahgroo, Clifton Brown (2) Jerry Braham Goals: (2 Pts each) Roy Calvert, Damon Gayle Total: 20 points.
In an inaugural season that has seen a new sport introduced to Jamaica, floodlight rugby played for the first time in the communities of Kingston, the engaging of communities and individuals in the running of their own sport, and an exciting and closely fought league competition, have proved very successful, as a large enthusiastic and diverse audience gathered to witness the highlight of this first season; The Jamaica Rugby League Premiership Grand Final between Vauxhall Vultures and the Duhaney Park Sharks.
Already crowned as League Champions, the game presented the Vultures with the opportunity to make a clean sweep of all the inaugural season's top honours. Their combination of bulkiness, pace and tough tackling has been their signature for most of the season, and proved very hard to stop.
In the Duhaney Park Sharks, the Vultures faced very familiar opposition. The Sharks who, still smarting from a 20-point defeat by the Vultures, which not only prevented them from winning the league, but allowed the Vultures to do so on goal difference, were keen to spoil a possible sweep for the Windward Road team, while setting themselves up for revenge and grab their first piece of silverware for their community.
Following the recent rains and the efforts of Utah Blade and his ground staff in preparing and marking the ground, the Duhaney Park, Baldwin Crescent Stadium was in perfect condition to provide both sides with the opportunity to play hard hitting, fast and expansive rugby.
Match Officials Paul Morris (Referee) Harry Shaw and Sue Morris (Touch Judges) knew it was going to be a busy night, as straight from the kick off; Vauxhall threw down the gauntlet and having driven the ball to within inches of the Sharks line, Kemar Gray punished a moments hesitation by the Sharks, to sneak over and score the opening try after only two minutes. His subsequent conversion gave the Vultures an early 6 points to nil lead, which they were never to relinquish.
Stung by this, the Sharks responded almost immediately, their big forwards dove hard and carried the ball well as they drove the Vauxhall defence backwards. On the fifth tackle the defence was looking for a kick, but instead, front rower, Kareem Jahgroo took a loose ball and charged at the smaller Vauxhall backline and despite a determined attempt to stop him, he crashed over to reduce the difference to 6pts 4pts.
With both sides now in full flow, the game became a battle of wills, with both sides trying to physically dominate and outsmart the other. Both sides combined hard driving by the forwards with probing runs by the faster backs, only to be met by determined and often intimidating tackling.
Opportunities were scares, as determined defence and impressive counter play by both sides saw the game ebb and flow to maintain the stalemate until the twenty second minute, when having kept the ball alive for four consecutive tackles, an off load in the tackle by a Vauxhall forward allowed Mohenjo Thompson to angle a run and tear open the Sharks defence to score a try that was an introduction to the problems he was to cause the Duhaney Park defence for the remainder of the game. With Kemar Gray taking a rest on the bench, Orlando Jones took over the kicking duties to extend Vauxhalls lead to 12pts 4pts.
This proved to be the unlocking of the game, as again and again Mohenjo Thompson teased and tormented the Sharks with probing runs and quick hands to set up opportunities for both his fellow backs and big forwards. This was capitalised on by Hector Bourne, who added to Vauxhalls points tally with a try in the thirty first minute again converted by Orlando Jones.
Not to be outdone, opposite number Clifton Brown, a recent signing for the Sharks, showed he to had the ability to open up a defence, and score following a delicate side step and run which along with the successful kick by Roy Calvert reduced the deficit to 18pts-10pts just before halftime.
Halftime came as a welcome break and a chance to catch their breath for both the Match Officials and players, who were all feeling the effects of the fast and open nature of the game.
The second half started where the first had left off, as again both teams crashed into each other in an attempt to overpower and dominate the other. With the teams evenly matched, the ferocity of tackling and the pace of the game had to tell and the players started to tire quickly.
The score could not remain unchanged, and it was the Sharks who struck first as Jerry Braham crossed the line with Damon Gayle kicking the conversion bringing the Sharks to within two points at 18pts-16pts.
However, it was the men from Vauxhall who were to make the most of the growing fatigue in both sides. First Kemar Gray added to his try tally after 53 minutes and Orlando Jones stepped up to kick the extra points. This was followed by a try from pace man Odell Hymen which had the crowd on its feet to cheer him on, as he collected the ball in his own half and broke free to win a sprint race with the Sharks backs and score.
With the score now 28pts to 16pts in favour of Vauxhall and only ten minutes left, the spirited Sharks were not going to give up and rallied to put the Vultures under severe pressure, a flowing move which saw the ball move swiftly from hand to hand created an overlap wide on the wing and the new man Clifton Brown showed that he had passion as well as pace to ground the ball in the corner and cut the vultures lead to 28pts to 20pts.
With both teams now exhausted and finding it hard to gain momentum it was Vauxhall who made sure that there would be no last minute reprieve for the brave Sharks, when Jeffery Gray finished off a very impressive show by worthy winners Vauxhall Vultures with the last score of the game and clinching a 32 points to 20 points victory.
Scorers for the Vauxhall Vultures, Tries (4 pts each) Kemar Gray (2) Mohenjo Thompson, Hector Bourne, Odell Hymen, Jeffery Gray Goals: (2 Pts each) Kemar Gray, Orlando Jones (3), Total: 32 points.
Scorers for the Duhaney Park Sharks, Tries (4 pts each) Kareem Jahgroo, Clifton Brown (2) Jerry Braham Goals: (2 Pts each) Roy Calvert, Damon Gayle Total: 20 points.
