Wednesday, 8th July 2009U19 Semi Finals - Mex and Cay through to final
Result: T&T 14 Mexico 22, Cayman 28 Jamaica 22 (HT:22-0)
Semi Final 1 (3.00 p.m.)
Referee: Alasdair Robertson (Cayman Islands)
Result: Trinidad & Tobago 14 Mexico 22 (HT: 8-5)
Try from winger John Taylor after 4 mins gives T&T an early 5-0 lead.
Penalty from scrum half Kendall Mootoo extends T&T lead to 8-0.
Solid forward pressure from Mexico on the T&T line sets up Hooker Alejandro Pradillo for a try from 5 metres out to narrow the T&T lead at 8-5.
Half time: 8-5
Mootoo opens the scoring in the second half with a penalty for T&T (11-5).
Mootoo adds another penalty to take the leadt to 14-0. Game seems to be slipping away from Mexico, who just can't seem to be able to penetrate the T&T defence.
Mexico respond with a well worked try, at last managing to unleash center Christian Henning who scores in the right corner. Henning misses the conversion. Mexico still need another try with only minutes on the clock. Two quick tries see Mexico take a 22-14 lead over T&T. Bryan Fada scores, Miguel Carner converts, followed immediately after the restart with centre Daniel Bolanos scoring in the right corner. How the match has swung in Mexico's favour.
Full time: T&T 14 Mexico 22. What a come back late in the second half by Mexico, who showed a never die say attitude. A disappointing end for T&T who played intelligent rugby throughout the match and came so close. So Mexico advance to Saturdays final where they will play the winner of Cayman v Jamaica.
Semi Final 2 (5.00 p.m.)
Referee: Tim Luscombe (USA)
Cayman Islands 28 Jamaica 22 (HT:22-0)
Lively start by Cayman, sees Michael Wislon open the scoring to give Cayman a 5-0 lead. All cayman at the moment. Fly half Joel Clarke extends the lead to 10-0. Robbie Cribb converts to take the score to 12-0. Cribb adds a penalty to extend the lead to 15-0.
Try by centre Matthew Hale, converted by Cribb puts Cayman into a convincing 22-0 lead at half time.
Half time: 22-0
Will take a determined Jamaican team to pull the match back in the second half. Relentless Cayman pressure has provided Jamaica with very little opportunities, so far. Cayman look dangerous each time they have the ball in hand.
Jamaica bring themselves back into the game with a try from full back Andrew Simpson (22-05).
Jamaica edge closer with a converted try. Fabian Turner scores with Ryan Grant adding the conversion (22-12). Andre O'Conor tries brings the game closer at 22-17 in Cayman's favour.
Robbie Cribb adds a penalty (25-17). Rodney Denvil touches down for Jamaica and rounds off some good ball handling by the Jamaican backs to bring the scores to 25-22. All nail biting stuff with Jamaica requiring a penalty to level. Cribb puts the game to rest with a late penalty to the delight of a very vocal home crowd.
Full time: Cayman 28-Jamaica 22
Cayman advance into Saturday's final and a repeat of the 2008 final against Mexico.
