The Seventh JRLA Grand Final takes place this Saturday, 10th September at the Red Stripe Oval off Spanish Town, Kingston (kick off 4pm). Defending champions Vauxhall Rugby Club will look to retain their title against bitter cross-town rivals the Duhaney Park Red Sharks. There is no love lost between the sides who have contested some epic battles over the years. Vauxhall start as favourites as they look to claim their fifth national title in as many appearances. The Red Sharks, on the other hand, have never won the coveted cup in five previous appearances and revenge will be foremost on their minds as Vauxhall have defeated them in the three previous Grand Final encounters, including a 36-14 loss in last year’s big game.

Both teams are blessed with an abundance of talent sharing between them 16 of the Jamaica national players who opposed Canada in the Caribana Cup in July. Vauxhall will be relying on hard running forwards Tyronie Rowe and Omar Jones for inspiration and power up front while the Red Sharks will depend on Romaen Campbell and Andrew Smith to do their own damage up the middle and create scoring opportunities for their very fast backline players.

The referee in charge will be Jevaughn Hall of the University of Technology.

(Pic: Red Sharks’ Damon Gayle faces off against Tyronie Rowe of Vauxhall)