---

Last Saturday saw a break from league action in the rugby season as the men's clubs competed for the annual Cherry Bowl 7s competition. The national men's team also played each of the clubs as they prepared for their foray into the World Cup 7s qualifying tournament, to be held this coming weekend in the Bahamas. The national ladies 7's team, preparing for their historic international bow, played two games against a select side to aid them as they look to make an instant impact on the international stage.

Police were deservedly crowned champions at the end of an exciting day of 7s rugby. They defeated all three other clubs, including a thriller against the Renegades. Their lines of running were sublime and they played fantastic rugby to capture the title, which no-one could begrudge them. They had star performers all over the pitch, with David Pringle, Paul Waldburger, Durnferd Davies, Jonathan Cassidy and Richard Keegan all to the fore. Renegades were runners up despite a fantastic tournament from Ian Henderson, with Teachers third and Mariners fourth.

The men's national team ended up defeating all of the clubs, and coach Lawrence Bird was delighted and very grateful to the clubs to get some match practice to help his squad gel that little bit extra. The Rugby 7s World Cup will be held in Dubai next year, and with the two finalists qualifying for the World Cup, the incentive is huge for this talented squad of players which will be led by talismanic captain Bobby Hurdle once again. However, Bird knows that it will be a very difficult task, with heavyweights the USA Eagles and Canada both competing in the Americas qualifier. It's a mammoth task when you consider these sides play regularly at the top level of 7s against the likes of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and France.

"The U.S. and Canada are obvious favourites, but anything can happen in 7s. It's all about possession and if we play intelligently, it is possible to go all the way and qualify for the finals in Dubai", he said. Bermuda were drawn with the U.S. and Mexico in the only three team group, and with two teams advancing to the next phase of the qualifiers, he earmarks the first match against Mexico as crucial. "We're well prepared this year, and if we play to our game plan and potential, we have the ability to beat all the Caribbean teams. We've been training hard three times a week since the start of August in preparation for this, everyone showed huge commitment and it was very tough to make the final selection".

Women

The ladies 7s team will be playing in their first full international matches when they participate in the Bahamas, and they have to play more established sides Jamaica and Guyana in their group, again with the top two advancing to the next phase of qualifying which will be on Sunday. Captain Melissa Da Ponte is under no illusions about the task facing her team, but has every confidence that they will show up well.

"As this is our first international tour I expect that we will face some strong opposition who are more experienced and may have more speed than us. We have a handful of very agile and allusive speedsters as well, combining this with our skills & game sense Bermuda should not be underestimated", she enthuses. "I know that when we step onto the pitch in Bahamas on Saturday that they will play with heart and soul worn on their sleeve and will do Bermuda proud. I am very proud of their hard work, dedication & determination to constantly improve themselves day in and day out."

The ladies have also been training three times a week alongside the men since August with some highly intensive track sessions. They started to introduce more technical training in September and by the end of September, they were doing three sessions of tackling, ball skills and attack and defensive moves. They were also training with their clubs twice a week and with experienced coaches Billy McNiven, Bobby Hurdle and Tom Healy training them, the ladies are very well prepared. It promises to be a momentous occasion for the ladies.

Due to the national teams being away, there is no rugby action on island this weekend. The men's and ladies squads are:

Mens: Bobby Hurdle (Captain), Tom Healy, Kris Furbert, Tom Edwards, Chris Naylor, Harry Andrews, Steve Husbands, Conor McGlynn, Greg Garside, Jack Ellison, David Porter, Eoghan O'Dwyer.

Ladies: Melissa DaPonte (Captain), Amy Harvey (Vice-Captain), Jill Brydon, Kim Spencer, Anna Knapman-Scott, Elizabeth Copeland, Julia Mansfield, Melissa Field, Nancy Catallier, Rachel Black, Ruth Leston, Vanessa George.

[[In-content Ad]]

---