The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH they won 24-7, manager John Gates said he expected the men’s national rugby team to perform much better offensively against the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Bahamas easily won the game in the Turks and Caicos on Saturday to advance from one II to zone 1 with Cayman and Mexico. Jamal Curry and Duran Beadle scored the trys and Kevin Salabie came through with the penalty kicks.

“Overall, we played well. We felt we could have done a little bit better offensively, but all in all, it was a very good game,” said Gates on the team’s return home yesterday.

The win came after the Bahamas pulled off a huge decision at home against Bermuda at the Winton Rugby Centre last month.

“Defensively, we played a very good game. Offensively, we could have been a little bit better,” Gates said. “Everybody played hard, so that is all you could ask.”

Prior to travelling, the Bahamas was sitting at No. 83 in the world and fourth in the Caribbean. The Bahamas will bolster their ranking, but the exact position was not available up to press time last night.

“Anytime you win, you move up the rankings, which is always good,” Gates said. “We’re really going for that number one spot in the Caribbean.”

Brown said the team definitely celebrated their feat in the Turks and Caicos. “Anytime you win in sports, you have to celebrate because you put so much effort into winning,” he said.

Gates travelled along with coaches Manoli Roussos and his assistant Andrew Brown.

The players who made up the team are as follows:

Charles Smith, Garfield Morrison, Patrick Arthur, Lashon Bain, Dan Woodside, Kevin Salabie, Kevin Charlton, Michael Walkine, Duran Beadle, Kevin Deveaux, Andre Bodie, Gio Rolle, Justin Cartwright, Dorian Butler, Lavar Boyd, Sasha Klonaris, Kyle Charlton, Shawn Albury, Jamal Curry, Terrell Thompson, Julian Waldron, Ryan Knowles and Arman Carlos.

Elystan Miles, president of the Bahamas Rugby Union, said it was a big win, putting the Bahamas back into zone one of the Caribbean North.

“Still work to be done as has been acknowledged by head coach Manoli Roussos, but for now, we celebrate,” Miles said. “Congratulations boys.”

With a break in action over the weekend as the national team travelled, Miles said the BRU is scheduled to be back in action as its Heineken Cup playoffs continue 2pm Saturday at Freeport Rugby Club - Freeport face the Cuckoos, while at the Winton Rugby Centre, the Buccaneers take on Baillou.