There was a rapturous celebration at St Elizabeth’s BB Coke High School after their U19s became the first rural school to capture the Jamaica High School Rugby League Championship.

The players were feted by hundreds of students and teachers as their boys returned with the silverware, following an 18-10 victory over fellow first time finalists, Old Harbour High in the Grand Final at Campion College.

The achievement was even more remarkable given that BB Coke only took up the sport three years ago, centre Jowayne Forbes the star of the win; head coach Kamar Findlay keeping his most potent weapon on the side lines for the first 20 minutes of the encounter.

Old Harbour’s Sony Guthrie scored the game’s opening try after eight minutes, BB Coke replying with two touchdowns in four minutes from Mickoy Foster and Ronald Ebank. Forbes entered the fray and his booming runs had an immediate impact, powering his way through four defenders on the left edge to establish a 12-4 half time lead.

A similar Forbes break at the start of the second half seemed to have set up another score but was called back for a forward pass and that looked as though it might be costly when, with six minutes remaining, Old Harbour’s best, Rodane Walters broke the cover, dived over out wide and landed an excellent touch line conversion to narrow the gap to two points.

OH had another chance immediately afterwards but spilt the ball when pressing the BB Coke line and Forbes made them pay, scattering three defenders on half way and motoring clear to the posts, Foster goaling.

“Lifting the trophy is a dream come true,” said beaming MVP Forbes. “We had a very hard competitor in Old Harbour but we came out and put on our best and now we are champions.”

In the third place play off, hosts Campion College stunned last year’s beaten finalists St Catherine High with a narrow 22-16 win, led by Isaac Dunkley who posted two tries and a goal.  St. Catherine’s Javel Morris claimed 12 points for the losing team.