The highly anticipated 2014 Intercollegiate Rugby League Championship got off to a frenetic start with 6 institutions vying for glory. The combatants are defending champions Mico University College, GC Foster College, The University of the West Indies, The University of Technology, Portmore Community College and Excelsior Community College. All teams will play each other twice, the top four will battle in the Semi-Finals on April 12, and the Grand Finals will be played on Thursday April 17.
GC Foster 40 def. Portmore Community College 18
The competition’s opening game was on Thursday January 23rd when GC Foster Lions turned back the challenge of Portmore Community College 40-18. The Fostodians who are beaten finalist from last year, were led by rookie Prop Forward Patrick Alexander who debuted with (2) tries. Portmore had a poor first half when they failed to score a single point and trailed by 26. Things got a little better for them in the second half when winger Stephen Wynter scored two quick tries to lead a mini comeback; however, it was not enough to turn over GC Foster.
Match Summary
GC Foster: Tries– Patrick Alexander (2), Stephen Scott (1), Steve Miller (1), Adrian Mckenzie (1), Chevaughn Bailey (1), Percival Rose (1) David Gordon (1). Conversions: Stephen Scott (4)
Portmore Community College: Tries- Julis Reid (1), Odane Gordon (1), Stephen Wynter (2) conversion: Odane Gordon (1)
Mico University College 40 def. University of Technology 8
Defending Champions Mico Crocs were in a no nonsense mood when they visited UTech Knights on Saturday January 25. Lead by a monster games from scholarship players Fabion Turner (3) tries and Antonio Baker (2) tries, they muscled their way to a solid win after a slow start. Mico led 10-4 at half time but one sensed it was only a matter of time before the game opened up.
UTech’s offense revolved heavily around their own national and scholarship stand out player, Nathan “The Beast” Campbell, who muscled his way to a powerful try early in the first half. However, when injury saw teammates Adrian Nicholson and Prop Donald Lounds pulled from the game on 60 minutes (both teammates collided), Mico took full advantage and ran in try after try to get their campaign off with 3 points.
Match Summary
Mico: Tries- Damone Downer (1), Kemar Ricketts (1), Romaen Campbell (1), Fabion Turner (30, Antonio Baker (2). Conversions: Kennard Woolery (4)
University of Technology: Tries– Nathan Campbell (1), Andrew Smith (1)
University of The West Indies 22 def. Excelsior Community College 10
The UWI Pelicans did not disappoint their fans when they out lasted a spirited Exed Eagles outfit on Saturday in the game of the round. UWI drubbed the Exed by 90 points last season and Exed were out for revenge after bolstering their squad with a few scholarship players and bringing in rugby league guru Roy Calvert as Head Coach.
The UWI team has no scholarship players but was lucky to gain the services of Samoan Prop Misioka Tanielu who battled all day with Exed’s scholarship and stand out player Linval Green. Misioka and the the larger UWI forwards battered Exed’s defense throughout the game and forced Exed into conceding several penalties. Those penalties were converted into points by Stand Half Kemoy Whyte who kicked a total 12 points from penalties and conversions.
It was desperately close at half time with UWI leading 12-10, but the second half saw UWI slowly pull away from their opponents who committed way too many ball handling errors.
Match Summary
UWI: Tries– Misioka Tanielu (1), Rico Matthew (1), Conversions: Kemoy Whyte (6)
Exed: Tries– Leon Thomas (1), Christopher Bascuine (1) Conversion: Linval Green
The Competition continues on Thursday January 30, when UTech hosts GC Foster at 4pm and then on Saturday February 1, when Exed hosts Mico at 2pm and UWI hosts Portmore Community College at 4pm.
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