Mexico Wins 2019 RAN Men’s U19 Championship

The 2019 RAN Superweek Men’s U19s tournament concluded July 21 with Mexico defeating USA Rugby South in the final. The tournament began July 18 and was held at the Bellevue Plantation & Polo Club, St. Michael, Barbados.

In the Women’s 10s that ended on July 20, Mexico beat Jamaica for the Championship. USA Rugby South defeated Saint Lucia for 3rd. The Dominican Republic won over Trinidad & Tobago in the Plate, while host Barbados finished in 7th with a win over Curaçao.

This was the 17th year of the annual tournament with the Men’s U19 shifting from a week-long competition to four days. Each match was 40 minutes long, except for the finals which had 35-minute halves. Mexico and USA South Panthers have traded the Men’s U19 title back and forth since 2015 and this year was the fifth time that they met in the final.

In Pool play, Mexico finished 3-0 in Pool A and was unscored upon. Trinidad & Tobago and the Cayman Islands finished 1-1-1 with T&T claiming second place with a point differential of +45 to +36. Curaçao finished fourth. In Pool B the USA Rugby South won Pool B with a 3-0 record, a tough Bermuda side finished 2-1, Jamaica 1-2, and host Barbados in fourth with a 0-3 record.

This set up Cup semifinal matches with Mexico beating Bermuda 17-0 and the USA Rugby South beating Trinidad & Tobago 18-5. In the Plate Semifinal, Cayman Islands beat Barbados 24-3, while Jamaica won 29-5 over Curacao.

On Sunday, July 21,  Mexico and USA Rugby South met in the Cup Final, Bermuda faced Trinidad & Tobago for Bronze, Cayman Islands met jamaica in the Plate Final and host Barbados faced Curaçao for 7th place.

Both Saturday & Sunday’s matches were live on Rugby Americas North Facebook & on YouTube. Squads for all teams may be viewed below. Squad information is needed for Curacao Men.

Full scores, schedule & details: https://rugbyamericasnorth.com

July 21 Finals Recap

The third day of the RAN Men’s U19s competition began with host Barbados taking an 18-0 lead over Curaçao at the break and claiming 7th place win a 30-0 win.

In the Plate Final, the Cayman Islands held a 19-12 lead at the half and extended the lead for a 31-19 victory.

In the Bronze Final, Bermuda led Trinidad & Tobago 15-5 at the break. Trinidad & Tobago stormed back with two tries early in the second half to take a 17-15 lead. With no time on the clock, Trinidad & Tobago’s Jahreem George added a hat trick for a 22-15 win.

In the Cup Final Mexico and USA Rugby South met for the Championship for the fifth consecutive year. Mexico entered the match not yielding any opposition points in the previous four matches.

Mexico struck first with a try by their fullback, Fernando Anduaga, who sliced through the defense for a 5-0 lead. Following a penalty by Mexico, USA Rugby South had an excellent attacking opportunity from a lineout 10-meters from in-goal, but the ball was not staright, allowing Mexico to escape a potential score.

The USA Rugby South attacked again after a Mexico box kick and advanced within the Mexico 22-meter line. A penalty by Fernando Anduaga sent him to the bin and Mexico would play down a man. After a few minutes, a try by Julian Skinner and the subsequent conversion gave the Panthers a 7-5 lead.

Both teams added tries before the break with the USA Rugby South holding a 14-12 lead.

Early in the second half, South extended the lead to 17-12 after a penalty goal. Then it was Mexico’s turn to go on a sustained attack before losing the ball forward deep inside South territory. A penalty by Mexico then allowed South to clear.

Mexico slotted a kick to cut the lead to 17-15. From the ensuing restart Mexico attacked again, but a forward pass thwarted an apparent try. This resulted in a 5-meter scrum to South and a kick to touch. Soon after, a South penalty allowed Mexico to reclaim an 18-17 lead after a penalty goal.

USA Rugby South gathered the restart and after a penalty by Mexico, Grant Caldwell slotted a kick to quickly re-take the lead, 20-18.

Mexico then went through phases, advancing deep inside South territory before being penalized for not releasing at the breakdown. South breifly attacked before a handling error allowed Mexico to attack again and reaching within meters of in-goal before losing the ball forward.

USA Rugby South decided to run the ball from in-goal after a scrum and the decision not to clear back fired as South was penalized for playing the ball off the ground at the breakdown. Mexico then used a quick tap to score and take a 23-20 lead.

The momentum continued in Mexico’s favor with los Serpientes added a converted try to claim their second consecutive RAN Men’s U19 Championship 30-20. With the win, Mexico claimed dual RAN titles, as Mexico won the RAN Women’s 10s the previous day.

2019 Rugby Americas North Men’s U19s Preview

Men’s U19s

  • Pool A: Mexico, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Curaçao
  • Pool B: USA Rugby South, Jamaica, Bermuda, Barbados

Men’s U19s Results

  • July 18
  • Mexico 24-0 Trinidad & Tobago
  • Cayman Islands 31-0 Curacao
  • USA Rugby South 16-5 Bermuda
  • Jamaica 19-0 Barbados
  • Mexico 86-0 Curacao
  • Cayman Islands 5-5 Trinidad & Tobago
  • USA Rugby South 46-0 Barbados
  • Jamaica 7-21 Bermuda
  • July 19
  • Mexico 26-0 Cayman Islands
  • Trinidad & Tobago 40-0 Curacao
  • USA Rugby South 22-0 Jamaica
  • Bermuda 18-5 Barbados
  • Cup SF: Mexico 17-0 Bermuda
  • Cup SF: USA Rugby South 18-5 Trinidad & Tobago
  • Plate SF: Cayman Islands 24-3 Barbados
  • Plate SF: Jamaica 29-5 Curacao
MEN
Pool A G Pts. P Dif. PF PA
Mexico 3 15 136 136 0
Trinidad & Tobago 3 7 16 45 29
Cayman Islands 3 7 5 36 31
Curacao 3 0 -157 0 157
12 29 0 217 217
Pool B G Pts. P Dif. PF PA
USA South 3 13 79 84 5
Bermuda 3 8 16 44 28
Jamaica 3 4 -17 26 43
Barbados 3 0 -78 5 83
12 25 0 159 159
  • July 21
  • 7/8th Barbados 30-0 Curaçao
  • Plate Final Cayman Islands 31-19 Jamaica
  • Cup 3/4: Bermuda 15-22 Trinidad & Tobago
  • Cup Final: Mexico 30-20 USA Rugby South

Men’s U19 Squads

USA Rugby South: Liam Anderson (Iona College), Ethyn Baker (Charlotte Tigers), Koby Baker (Raleigh Redhawks), Grant Caldwell (University of Memphis), Kai Carlberg (University of Kentucky), Johnny Carmichael (South Greenville), Luke Davies (University of Tennessee), Alex Dillard (Sumner County), Matt Freeman (Gonzaga), Jalen Greatrex (Middle Tennessee State University), Preston Hammerschmidt (Lindenwood University), Luke Hawk (Avon High School), Garrett Hill (Clayton Copperheads), Jayden Hudson (University of Kentucky), Jackson King (Furman University), Dre Mejicanos (Furman University), Vince Meymandi (Raleigh Redhawks), Reed Pederson (Charlotte Catholic), Dougie Price (Iona College), Jacob Schroeder (Francis Howell Force), Joshua Schwartz (Wizards Rugby Club), Jullian Skinner (Avon High School), Jack Van Vilet (Wando Rugby Football Club), Matthew Wigley (University of Memphis), Head Coach Mark Williams, Forwards Coach John Watson, Backs Coach Jody Hensley, Trainer Luis Rodas, Manager Theresa Williams

Bermuda: Tyler Kendall – Captain [Teachers / McMaster Canada], Ja’kee Simons – Vice Captain [Teachers / Berkeley], Alex Doyling [Teachers / Kutztown College USA], Jake Field [Police / Saltus], Jamin Hodgkins [Mariners / Shawnigan Canada], Alex Whalley [Mariners / MSA], Miguel Postlethwaite [Cedarbridge], Shane Richards [Mariners / Berkeley], Matthew Daniels [Mariners / Warwick Academy], Ben Crayford [Mariners / University of Leeds UK], George-Hilton Peets [Teachers / Berkeley], Cairi Albouy [Teachers / Berkeley], Khabir Dill [Campbell College UK], Tommy Westhead [Renegades], D’Zuri Gill [Berkeley], Matisse Bascome [Mariners / Warwick Academy], Moses Simmons [Teachers / Berkeley], Nathaniel Simmons [Southern University USA], Paulo Sousa [Mariners / CedarBridge], Sylas Young [Mariners / Bermuda Institute], Jaden King [Berkeley], Isaiah Rickards [Dalhousie Canada], Conor Somerville [Saltus], Chaziah Brown [Mariners / Bermuda Institute] + Head Coach Dan Roberts

Jamaica: Jovan Beckford, Kishony Campbell, Towayne Campbell, Hayden Collins, Dylan Davis, Lawrence Drummond, Ronaldeni Fraser, Kahil Green, Odane Hamilton, Dondre Haughton, Tahj-Jau Lynch, Howayne Mattis, Sonjae McDonald, Greg McDonald, Shane Miller, Javel Morris, Tajay Morris, Tajay Myles, Zyaire Peart, Jean-Claude Silvera, Devon Thomas, Lyndel Thrue, Tyrece Wright, Dmitri Morrison, Marvin Kelly, Tendai Allen, + Coach Huntley Anderson, Manager Brooke-Ashley Jarrett

Barbados: Lucas Brathwaite, Zera Yaicob, Albert Stoute, Judah Toussaint, D’andre Phillips, Zarique Harewood, Oliver Grant-Joseph, Kemar Spencer, Jadon Benjaminin, Omar Smith, Antone Mayers, Simeon John, Nathan Corbin, Judah Toussaint, Raziel Williams, Khama Liam Scantlebury, Wilfred Boxill, Jeremiah St Luce, Demetri Gill

Mexico: 1 Cristian Vazquez 2 Emilio Contreras 3 Adrian Gonzalez 4 Fernando Anduaga 5 Axel Arias 6 Nicolas Falcon 7 Diego Sanchez 8 Fernando Gutierrez 9 Isaac Romero 10 Luis Enrique Martinez 11 Alejandro Revilla 12 Sebastian Garza 13 Daniel Martinez 14 Emillano Garcia 15 Leonardo Riberio 16 Jose Larraga 17 Raul Barron 18 Samuel Rojas 19 Enrique Castillo 20 Alonso Escalera 21 Christian Sanchez 22 Xavier Sotres 23 Santiago Gonzalez 24 Desmond Ryan

Cayman Islands: 1. Alfie Parker (VC) 2. Joseph Welcome 2. Finn Lovegrove 4. Andrew Cayasso 5. Cameron Sinclair 6. Tyler Lawson 7. Thomas Sperandeo 8. James Priaulx 9. Matthew Hanson 10. Thomas Kehoe 11. Daniel Link 12. Cameron Galloway 13. Matthew Westin 14. Dante Baptiste 15. Ewan Wilson (C) 20. Callum Smith 21. Alexander Claybourn 22. Jered Holmes 23. Joseph Ribbins + Head Coach: Edward Westin,
Assistant Coach: Paul Westin, Director of Rugby: Jovan Bowles, Manager: Tom Sperandeo, Physio: Sinead Grace

Trinidad & Tobago: Mikhael Aberdeen, Isaiah Ayers, Che Bacchus, Kayode Barrington, Nikolai Christopher, Shaydon De Laney, Askari Dawud, K’jaro Francis, Jahreem George, Donte Hazzard, Che Kidney, Clayton Knott, Kyle Look Hong, Yohance Moore, Nicholas Navarro, Simon Navarro, Antonio Pascall, Zephan Pathron, Raheem Phillip,  Jabari Pinder, Andrew Quash, Maalik Rayside, Kakshman Seepersad, Jayden Small, Johnathon Stewart, Jonathan Taylor, Judah Wilson, Jabari Young + head Coach Jerome Poon Tip, Assistant Coach Don Sucre, Manager Quentin Lyder-Baptiste, Ass’t Manager Graham Chin, Physiotherapist Dennis Serrette

Curacao: Request made, TBA

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