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The Bermuda Select team opened the World Rugby Classic when they faced off against Lloyd's RFC, a team of players from the insurance industry in London. High temperatures and a vocal home support greeted the two teams as they walked on to the pitch for what would prove to be a fantastic match.

Lloyd's opened the better and a fine breakaway ended up with a penalty try given after a high tackle in the corner.

After an easy conversion in front of the posts, they were up 7-0 but Bermuda fought back brilliantly. Lloyd's were penalized in front of the posts with Bermuda applying great pressure and Neil MacGuinness continued his prolific season with the boot to slot over the penalty.

Lloyd's broke through down the right wing with a fine move that ended up with Matthew Fitzgerald crossing the whitewash in the corner.

Just before the half time whistle, the very impressive David Pringle burst through the middle to score under the posts, to the great delight of the vociferous home crowd. MacGuinness slotted the conversion and Bermuda went into the break trailing only 12-10.

The second half really was champagne rugby, and both sides were superb as the game flowed from end to end. Lloyd's scored a converted try to push further ahead, before Tom Edwards scored a beautiful try.

The Onions broke from inside their own 22 metre line, and some fine passes from Pringle and Durnferd Davies drew the defense and ended with Edwards racing over in the corner. The conversion was missed but Ian Henderson then slotted a penalty to bring the game to 19-18 in favour of Lloyd's.

Duncan Heywood then converted his own try to put Lloyd's 8 points ahead coming into the last 10 minutes.

It looked unlikely that Bermuda could win the match as time ran down, but another amazing try from Edwards brought them right back in it and earned a standing ovation from the crowd.

It was a try that any team would be proud of, and will be unlikely bettered this week.

Bermuda broke from inside their own half and fantastic interplay involving Pringle, Davies, Tom Healy, Mike Barthuizen and Henry Paddison sent Edwards under the posts.

The conversion made it 26-25 to Lloyd's with only a few minutes left, and the crowd was completely engrossed.

Bermudian hopes of a victory were crushed right at the death however, when James Cowen managed to score in the corner to secure a 31-25 win for the Lloyd's team after a truly fascinating encounter.

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