RWC 2011 qualifying gets under way

Hot favourites: Trinidad & Tobago will fancy their chances of winning the tournament

Trinidad & Tobago were the victors of the first IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifying match, overcoming Cayman Islands 39-12 at the Truman Bodden Stadium in Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

The match was the first of four contested on day one of the tournament, which also doubles as the 2008 NAWIRA Caribbean Championship.

In the second game on day one, Guyana defeated Jamaica 10-3 to join Trinidad & Tobago in the semi finals. Bermuda will join them at that stage after a 29-13 defeat of Bahamas in match three and Barbados' last-gasp 21-20 win over Mexico secures their berth in the semis.

Mexico, without an IRB World Ranking and in their first-ever RWC qualifying match, were minutes away from a stunning upset over Barbados, ranked 60th in the rankings.

Mexico led 20-18 before Barbados kicked a penalty to snatch a 21-20 lead with minutes left. Mexico had the opportunity to win it in the last minute but full-back Septien's kick just drifted right.

The four winners from day one go on to the semi finals and keep alive their RWC 2011 qualifying hopes. The fixtures for the second match day, on 23 April, are:

Cup semis:

Bermuda v Guyana

Trinidad & Tobago v Barbados

Bowl semis:

Cayman Islands v Mexico

Bahamas v Jamaica

Trinidad & Tobago 39 Cayman Islands 12

On a beautiful day at the National Stadium a healthy Sunday morning crowd witnessed Trinidad & Tobago fly-half Brendan O'Farrell kicking of RWC 2011 qualifying and it was his side that enjoyed all the early play.

Trinidad & Tobago opened the scoring after just seven minutes when right wing Kidone Silverthorn dived over in the right hand corner to claim the first points of RWC 2011 qualifying.

Trinidad & Tobago continued to dominate the first quarter of the game and enjoyed the majority of possession and territory. Indeed they displayed superior skills up front and in possession retention, and better handling behind the scrum. This resulted in another try with captain and number eight Adam Frederick crossing the Cayman line after 20 minutes.

It took just another four minutes for Trinidad & Tobago to score their third try when left wing Andre Cabera finished off a lovely move by the backline to score in the left hand corner. Trinidad & Tobago dominance continued for the rest of the half with Cayman rarely venturing into the opposition half. However resolute defence by the Cayman Islands meant they went into the break only 17-0 down.

Trinidad & Tobago flanker Robert Stone finished off strong mauling and driving play by his forwards early in the second half to extend Trinidad & Tobago's lead. This followed Trinidad & Tobago opting for a kick to the corner after a penalty against Cayman for offside and an unstoppable driving maul from the line-out led to Stone crashing over with the support of his pack to make it 22-0.

The local crowd, who had enjoyed little to cheer up to that point, were given some hope when Cayman reserve lock Matt Bishop crossed near the posts, following a quick tap option from a penalty under the posts by scrum-half Tony Elliott. Cayman wing Stuart McMillan converted to make it 22-7.

Cayman's progress in the match was hampered by their line-out which was constantly under pressure, but a clever kicking game gave them territory and opportunities.

Ron Arscott, the Cayman reserve prop was called into action on 25 minutes. Arscott is in his sixties and is one of the oldest players to see RWC action, having also played in the last RWC qualifying tournament.

Cayman tried to open up the game in search of a score to bring them back into the match, but Trinidad & Tobago capitalised on an open field mistake and scored their fifth try through full-back Kelson Fugaro. The conversion by O'Farrell made it 29-7.

Trinidad & Tobago's Ronald Silvertorne, one of their replacements, continued the scoring with a fine try to make it 34-7 after excellent handling by the threequarters and a quick ruck on the Cayman line. With players getting tired and spaces opening up Trinidad & Tobago replacement back Miguel Laro ran 40 metres to score another try for his side with five minutes remaining.

However, Cayman heads had not dropped and wing Stuart McMillan scored the final try of the game in the right corner following a strong run by Arscott to the loudest cheer of the day.

Cayman Islands: R Tressider, K Wright, M Livingston, S Hannan, S McMillan, C Bunce, T Elliot, C Law, S Gerrard, J Rew, J Bovell, M de Toil, J Wagner (c), S Bacon, P de Vere.

Replacements: T Stewart, R Arscott, B Tressider, J Clark, M Bishop, M Cumber, J Doak.

Trinidad & Tobago: K Fugaro; K Silverthorn, D Smaggs, K Aamensen, A Cabera; B O'Farrell; B Yelming; A Frederick [c], R Stone, K Quashie; J Clark, P Bacchus; S Roberts, F Guerra, D Martinez.

Replacements: R Anandsingh, M Laro, J Joseph, C Gellingham, R Silverthorne, W Kelly, C Felix.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

Guyana 10-3 Jamaica

Guyana: R Mayers, D Parks, K McKenzie, T Henry, C Butts (c), C Singh, R George, C Prowell, R Staglon, F Thomson, A Feux, W George, T McCalmon, A Etwali, D Gordon.

Replacements: C Montooth, J Tyrell, E Chase, J Felicien, D Downer, P Hamilton, L Greaves.

Tries: Cloyd Prowell, Kevin McKenzie

Jamaica: J Myers, K Howard, A Fong (c), O Hyman, D Walters, N Pusey, M Davis, G Marfood, O Smith, K Catiner, A Edwards, M Green, B Martin, I Virgo, E Herbine.

Replacements: D Samuels, C Green, M Sutherland, S Hastings, S Wint, E Pattinger, R Johnson.

Pen: Donald Walters

Referee: Derek Stoltz (Canada)

Bahamas 13 Bermuda 29

Bahamas: B Baker, E Joseph, D Beadle, J Curry, G Rolle, K Charlton, K Salabie, P Arthur, D Woodside, A Bain, B Culmer, J Gates [c], G Morrison, M Rolle, M Surin.

Replacements: C Smith, L McPhee, J Pierre, D Oasis, A Kemp, J Perkins, A Boodle.

Tries: G Rolle, D Oasis

Pen: K Salabie

Red Card: Garfield Morrison - Bahamas (6 mins)

Bermuda: M Kane, E O'Dwyer, H Andrews, C Way, J Ellison, C Naylor, T Healy, D Hurdle [c], K Furbert, A Steynor, K Walsh, P Dunkerley, J Billings, T Greenslade, B Desmond.

Replacements: B Beasley, A Battiston, M Lea, R Douglas, N MacGuinness.

Tries: M Kane, K Furbert, J Ellison, C Naylor

Cons: M Kane 3

Pen: M Kane

Referee: Paul Bretz (USA)

Mexico 20 Barbados 21

Mexico: P Septien, A Chavez, F Ramos, R Quintana, C Petersen, M Rios, J Campos, L Bullrich, B Wilson, A Maggallanes [c], G Gonzalez, B Abril, S Salgado, A Fernandez, n Bartsch.

Replacements: Rodriguez, C Berumen, H Iriarte, C Morin, J-P Andrade, D Parsons, G Hernandez.

Tries: L Bullrich, J Campos

Cons: P Septien 2

Pen: P Septien

Drop goal: J Campos

Barbados: A Omar Bynoe, J Goddard, T Grant, K Johnson, A Gibbons [c], B Petit, D Shepard, S Miller, P Lucas, J Miller, P Demunic, M Anstead, R Gibson, g Mosley-Clarke, R Mayers.

Replacements: B Marshall, R Mayers, R Edwards, S Copeland, L Cooper-King, K Payne, S Ward.

Tries: A Gibbons, A Omar Bynoe

Con: B Petit

Pens: B Petit 3

Referee: Aaron Christie (Jamaica)

With thanks to the IRB