USA Hawks hold on to secure 30-26 victory over Jamaica in Kingston
Key Points(5)
- However, their efforts were not enough to secure a win for the Reggae Warriors, despite the passionate support of the home crowd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamaica took an early 10-0 lead, even though they had less possession.
- Nevertheless, the USA Hawks made a comeback and led 14-10 at halftime.
- Kyle Granby, the center from Brooklyn Kings, played a pivotal role, scoring two of his three tries just before the break.
- Granby, who also successfully kicked two goals, completed an impressive five-minute hat-trick shortly after the second half began.
- It was a challenging game from start to finish.
The USA Hawks managed to withstand a late resurgence from Jamaica, clinching a hard-fought 30-26 victory at the Mona Bowl, University of West Indies in Kingston, on Saturday.
In an intense rugby showdown, Tahj-Jay Lynch scored his second try in the 77th minute, and Kenneth Walker crossed the tryline just before the full-time whistle. However, their efforts were not enough to secure a win for the Reggae Warriors, despite the passionate support of the home crowd.
Jamaica took an early 10-0 lead, even though they had less possession. Nevertheless, the USA Hawks made a comeback and led 14-10 at halftime. Kyle Granby, the center from Brooklyn Kings, played a pivotal role, scoring two of his three tries just before the break. Granby, who also successfully kicked two goals, completed an impressive five-minute hat-trick shortly after the second half began. Tahj-Jay Lynch's second try in the 50th minute gave the Reggae Warriors hope.
Jamaica refused to surrender
Tries by veteran forward Joe Eichhner in the 60th minute and five-eighth Ryan Bannerot, 11 minutes later, seemed to secure the victory for the USA, but Jamaica refused to surrender.
USA captain, Peter Lupton, commented on the hard-fought match: "It was a back-and-forth battle, and we had to contend with some formidable opponents. It was a challenging game from start to finish. We only had one practice session leading up to the game, with players working on their individual fitness. It's been a positive turnaround and a win for us, but it's undoubtedly a success for both sides. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the crowd and the support they showed for the Jamaican team. It was a remarkable experience."
The Jamaican team faced setbacks as they lost Andrew Simpson in the first half and Kevin Thomas in the second half to injuries, limiting their bench.
Jamaica's coach, Roy Calvert, expressed gratitude to the USA Hawks for their visit to Jamaica, highlighting the strong turnout of supporters. He said, "Today's match showcased us to potential sponsors and volunteers, raising our profile here. Despite the narrow loss, it was a fantastic occasion. We are now 1-1 for games played between the nations here in Jamaica and look forward to the next one."
JAMAICA 26
Lineup: Andrew Simpson, Kamarine Williams, Ryan Grant, Tahj-Jay Lynch, Kenneth Walker, Chevaughn Bailey, Marvin Thompson, Owen Linton, Adrian Hall, Omar Jones, Kevin Thomas, Reinhard Richards, Daniel Graham; Interchanges: Akkem Murray, Kile Nembhard, Hakeem Richards, Oshane Edie
Tries: Williams (15), Graham (22), Lynch (50, 77), Walker (80)
Goals: Ryan Grant ½, Chevaughn Bailey ½, Adrian Hall 1/1
USA 30
Lineup: David Washington, James Williams, Jason Martin, Kyle Granby, Urban Iyo, Ryan Bannerot, Peter Lupton, Tevita Bryce, Mason McCrory, Malcolm Webb, Wes Piggins, Sean Hunt, Joe Eichner; Interchanges: Matt Finnesy, Ethan Ferrick, Gunnar Johnson, Bart Longchamp
Tries: Webb (30), Granby (37, 39, 42), Eichhner (60), Bannerot (71)
Goals: McCrory 1/4, Granby 2/2
Referee: Kemoy Whyte (Jamaica)
Half Time: 10-14
