November 7th 2015 Barbados beats BVI 17-15 in Road Town
The BVI Rugby Team lost 17-15 to Barbados in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association south zone promotion/relegation clash at the A. O. Shirley Ground on Saturday November 7, 2015.After a period of sustained pressure early in the first half, Rory Thornton opened the scoring for the Virgin Islands with a 30 yard penalty and went on to add a couple of conversions to his tally after both Thomas Wilson and Matt Holmes had scored to give the VI a 15-10 half time lead.
However, a fitter looking Barbadian team hit back strongly in the second half.
The VI were camped in the Barbados 22, but were unable to extend their lead before Kevin Carter scored an opportunist break away try, which he also converted to make it 17-15 to Barbados.
The VI came back strong with a prize of matches against the likes of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago up for grabs and got their chance to go back ahead with ten minutes to go.
Thornton though, would see a penalty kick from in front of the posts go wide and with it the last chance for the VI to win the game.
A bitterly disappointed VI Captain, Rory Thornton, was in a philosophical mood after the game. “We made them play our game for the best part of the game, we knew they had more individual talent, but the one thing we have been doing lately is coming together as a team and we did that really well today. Individually everyone had a great game, but as a pack we didn’t produce enough clean ball for the backs to exploit.”
Coach Sherlock “Solo” Solomon was heartbroken to see his team come so close to what would have been a famous victory. “It broke my heart!” he said.
“[It was] a game we clearly should have won, but lost by two points. We can take a lot from the game though, especially with the youngsters. The Forwards didn’t do as much as I hoped in providing the likes of Noel Maxwell and Austin Kiel opportunities. I think we were a little nervous at times and soft in defense, but when a game is that close it only takes one moment to win or lose it,” he said.
However, a fitter looking Barbadian team hit back strongly in the second half.
The VI were camped in the Barbados 22, but were unable to extend their lead before Kevin Carter scored an opportunist break away try, which he also converted to make it 17-15 to Barbados.
The VI came back strong with a prize of matches against the likes of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago up for grabs and got their chance to go back ahead with ten minutes to go.
Thornton though, would see a penalty kick from in front of the posts go wide and with it the last chance for the VI to win the game.
A bitterly disappointed VI Captain, Rory Thornton, was in a philosophical mood after the game. “We made them play our game for the best part of the game, we knew they had more individual talent, but the one thing we have been doing lately is coming together as a team and we did that really well today. Individually everyone had a great game, but as a pack we didn’t produce enough clean ball for the backs to exploit.”
Coach Sherlock “Solo” Solomon was heartbroken to see his team come so close to what would have been a famous victory. “It broke my heart!” he said.
“[It was] a game we clearly should have won, but lost by two points. We can take a lot from the game though, especially with the youngsters. The Forwards didn’t do as much as I hoped in providing the likes of Noel Maxwell and Austin Kiel opportunities. I think we were a little nervous at times and soft in defense, but when a game is that close it only takes one moment to win or lose it,” he said.
May 2nd 2015 - BVI beats Curacao 19-0 in Road Town
It was a historic day for the BVI’s Men’s Rugby team with several firsts wrapped up in one. Led by an ironclad defensive effort, the BVI flogged Curacao for the first time; shut out their first opponent; won their first North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) South Cup Zone League; won their first home game in NACRA play, and advanced out of the group unbeaten for the first time in its history to face Barbados, following a 19-0 Saturday afternoon drubbing of Curacao.
It all began unfolding seven minutes into play after Shamaire Spencer scored the first try and Rory Thornton converted for the BVI’s 7-0 lead. Noel Maxwell outran Curacao’s defenders just before halftime for 12-0 edge. Just before halftime, the BVI made one of two critical defensive goal line stands to deny Curacao’s tries and capped the scoring in the last minute on Austin Keil’s try, for the historic victory.
“To come away from this championships with three wins from three games is just absolutely incredible and we’ve been working so hard and it shows in each game we’ve played,” noted Captain Roan Thornton. “Last year we had two home games that should have benefitted us but it didn’t. We kept dropping our heads at halftime we lost our leads and ended up losing the whole thing. This year, to comeback from our mistakes, make up for last year has just been absolutely rewarding and it’s just strengthening the program.”
Coach Sherlock “Solo” Solomon said they should have had a bigger margin of victory. “I expected a bit more scoring because we put a lot of pressure on them and we didn’t get the results we wanted in terms of more tries,” he noted. “The defense was awesome—we didn’t let in on any tries and I think that was great—that was an area we spent some time working on and I’m happy we did step up and shut the opposition down.”
Curacao’s manager Gabriel Breuer said the BVI was the better team. “I don’t like the result, but it’s a fact and they had the better plan,” he said. “It’s a lousy pitch—that’s also a reason—but they had to play on a lousy pitch too and we are disappointed. But, they were better.”
The 1st BVI Rugby team to go 3-0 and win the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) South Cup Zone League;
Thornton explained that in last year’s Curacao game, they had a lot of young players, the defense wasn’t as strong, they missed a lot of tackles, gave up a lot of points and every try last year was the same.
“They were just splitting through our defense and scoring tries. This year, it was just solid,” he noted. “We had the younger guys making tackles really well, but I think the key was getting out there and wanting it more than them. We are louder, more aggressive and played a much more controlled game—they played our game rather than vice versa like last year—our fitness was also key because we had been working on it.”
After losing to Barbados by a try in their last encounter, Solomon said they are ready to take them on. He added that they have some housekeeping to do in the fitness department as they are playing a better team and have to be more prepared.
“Mentally, we’re ready for Barbados,” he said. “But we have to step up more physically.”
It all began unfolding seven minutes into play after Shamaire Spencer scored the first try and Rory Thornton converted for the BVI’s 7-0 lead. Noel Maxwell outran Curacao’s defenders just before halftime for 12-0 edge. Just before halftime, the BVI made one of two critical defensive goal line stands to deny Curacao’s tries and capped the scoring in the last minute on Austin Keil’s try, for the historic victory.
“To come away from this championships with three wins from three games is just absolutely incredible and we’ve been working so hard and it shows in each game we’ve played,” noted Captain Roan Thornton. “Last year we had two home games that should have benefitted us but it didn’t. We kept dropping our heads at halftime we lost our leads and ended up losing the whole thing. This year, to comeback from our mistakes, make up for last year has just been absolutely rewarding and it’s just strengthening the program.”
Coach Sherlock “Solo” Solomon said they should have had a bigger margin of victory. “I expected a bit more scoring because we put a lot of pressure on them and we didn’t get the results we wanted in terms of more tries,” he noted. “The defense was awesome—we didn’t let in on any tries and I think that was great—that was an area we spent some time working on and I’m happy we did step up and shut the opposition down.”
Curacao’s manager Gabriel Breuer said the BVI was the better team. “I don’t like the result, but it’s a fact and they had the better plan,” he said. “It’s a lousy pitch—that’s also a reason—but they had to play on a lousy pitch too and we are disappointed. But, they were better.”
The 1st BVI Rugby team to go 3-0 and win the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) South Cup Zone League;
Thornton explained that in last year’s Curacao game, they had a lot of young players, the defense wasn’t as strong, they missed a lot of tackles, gave up a lot of points and every try last year was the same.
“They were just splitting through our defense and scoring tries. This year, it was just solid,” he noted. “We had the younger guys making tackles really well, but I think the key was getting out there and wanting it more than them. We are louder, more aggressive and played a much more controlled game—they played our game rather than vice versa like last year—our fitness was also key because we had been working on it.”
After losing to Barbados by a try in their last encounter, Solomon said they are ready to take them on. He added that they have some housekeeping to do in the fitness department as they are playing a better team and have to be more prepared.
“Mentally, we’re ready for Barbados,” he said. “But we have to step up more physically.”
April 18th 2015 - BVI beats St Vincent 22-5 in St Vincent
February 28th 2015 - BVI beats St Lucia 22-14 in St Lucia
The BVI national squad returned home from St Lucia as winners against St. Lucia with a score of 22 – 14 in their first match of the 2015 North American Caribbean Rugby Association’s 15s. The game was played at the Mindoo Phillip Park, Castries, St Lucia on Saturday.
Tightly contested describes the first half of the game with the BVI enjoying a slim 7-10 halftime lead. Unlike last year’s tournament where the BVI surrendered a 10-point half time lead to St. Lucia, this year, the home side was corrected their mistakes, partly due to the team’s improved fitness.
St. Lucia surged late in the second half, but the BVI’s defense withstood the pressure and allowed just seven more points while adding 12 more points to settle the final score 22-14.
The BVI, St. Lucia, along with St. Vincent and Curacao are playing for the South Zone Cup. The next challenge for the BVI is St. Vincent.
Against St. Lucia, the BVI squad was bolstered by the availability of Nicolas Recondo and Federico Zacari. Some seven players have come through the under-19 youth training program introduced some years ago under the leadership of national coach, Sherlock ‘Solo’ Solomon.
The BVI was eager to take the field to extract revenge after losing a 10 point second half advantage then surrendered the game 29-18 to St. Lucia at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds during last year’s tournament.
In December, the BVI faced St. Lucia in the North America Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACA) 7s tournament in Mexico City, Mexico and won, 35-14.
Solomon had told BVI Platinum News that this year’s squad has undergone intense training and fitness, including participation in beach rugby tournaments. He expressed the view that the youth players continue to grow and improve steadily and St. Lucia would be a true test of the young squad.
Full Squad
Adebola Haffner, Andre Adams, Burt Woodley, Damion Brown, Jevon Thompson, Roan Thornton, Thomas Chapman, Vivieon Harry, Robert Christie, Shamarie Spencer, Kareen Ettienne, Eugene Maduro, Noel Maxwell, Victor Umparo, Kenrich Thomas, Garreth Jardine, Colin McDonald, Andrew Simmonds, Joseph Smith, Franklyn Victor, Rory Greenam, Federico Zacari, Tarod Morgan and Nicolas Recondo.
Tightly contested describes the first half of the game with the BVI enjoying a slim 7-10 halftime lead. Unlike last year’s tournament where the BVI surrendered a 10-point half time lead to St. Lucia, this year, the home side was corrected their mistakes, partly due to the team’s improved fitness.
St. Lucia surged late in the second half, but the BVI’s defense withstood the pressure and allowed just seven more points while adding 12 more points to settle the final score 22-14.
The BVI, St. Lucia, along with St. Vincent and Curacao are playing for the South Zone Cup. The next challenge for the BVI is St. Vincent.
Against St. Lucia, the BVI squad was bolstered by the availability of Nicolas Recondo and Federico Zacari. Some seven players have come through the under-19 youth training program introduced some years ago under the leadership of national coach, Sherlock ‘Solo’ Solomon.
The BVI was eager to take the field to extract revenge after losing a 10 point second half advantage then surrendered the game 29-18 to St. Lucia at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds during last year’s tournament.
In December, the BVI faced St. Lucia in the North America Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACA) 7s tournament in Mexico City, Mexico and won, 35-14.
Solomon had told BVI Platinum News that this year’s squad has undergone intense training and fitness, including participation in beach rugby tournaments. He expressed the view that the youth players continue to grow and improve steadily and St. Lucia would be a true test of the young squad.
Full Squad
Adebola Haffner, Andre Adams, Burt Woodley, Damion Brown, Jevon Thompson, Roan Thornton, Thomas Chapman, Vivieon Harry, Robert Christie, Shamarie Spencer, Kareen Ettienne, Eugene Maduro, Noel Maxwell, Victor Umparo, Kenrich Thomas, Garreth Jardine, Colin McDonald, Andrew Simmonds, Joseph Smith, Franklyn Victor, Rory Greenam, Federico Zacari, Tarod Morgan and Nicolas Recondo.