Rugby Cup: Bahamas Routs Dominican Republic 42-5 – Bahamas Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

TEAM Bahamas returned to the win column in regional play and closed out the current stage of the Rugby Americas North Cup Series in dominant fashion.

The team scored a 42-5 win over the Dominican Republic at the Centro Olmpico Juan Pablo Duarte in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, on June 3.

The win secured the second spot in the Rugby Americas North North Cup for the Bahamas. Both teams lost previous games to the Turks and Caicos Islands, who finished atop the group.

The Bahamas fell 26-16 to the visiting Turks and Caicos Islands at the Winton Rugby Centre on May 20, an historic win for the visiting side as they secured their first-ever victory against a full member of International World Rugby on the international 15 a-side stage.

TCI successfully defended home turf on May 4 with a 24-15 win over the Dominicans in the first game of the series.

The Dominican Republic, first-time participants in the tournament, aimed to repeat TCIs feat of winning their first match against an IRB side, but fell short.

During the DR/TCI matchup, the game produced an historic feat for the country, as Jamaal Curry became the first Bahamian ever to referee an officially sanctioned international rugby match.

In their last appearance at the Rugby Americas North Championship in June 2016, the Bahamas suffered consecutive losses to Mexico, Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

This years event marks the 10th edition of the RAN Championship, traditionally geared toward Tier 3 North American and Caribbean teams.

Pool play began on April 22 and will continue through July 1. Unlike last years tournament, 2017 will not serve as an iRB World Cup qualifying event and non World Rugby full member teams return to take part.

The North Zone returns to the 2015 format with a higher Championship level and a lower Cup level, however the South Zone has been reduced to one level of three teams.

The tournament has been divided into two competitions and three divisions, accompanied with a relegation and promotion system playoff. The two competitions are the Championship League (North Zone, South Zone) and the Cup League.

The Bahamas is a member of the Cup League, which features the aforementioned Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos Islands. Championship League includes Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Mexico and USA South in the North Zone. The South Zone includes Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The winners in the Cup League will earn an opportunity to play their way into the Championship League by facing off against the third place side among the Champions. Each division plays a single round robin. After pool play is complete, the winners play in the final on July 1.

Turks and Caicos Islands,