GC Foster College and UTech each displayed tremendous attacking skills in the biggest shoot-out seen to date in the Intercollegiate Rugby League championship. At the end of the encounter, only one try and a conversion separated the evenly matched teams, and just as in the finals last year, it was the GC Foster Lions team that prevailed.
The game got off to an exciting start when UTech and former Maggotty high school powerhouse centre Nathan Campbell, smashed his way over the try line on the right hand side after only two minutes. GC Foster replied in the 10th minute when Clive Henry found a hole in the defensive line and scampered over for his first score of the competition. The extra two points were converted by Lamar Eliis. GC Foster went further ahead when stand-half Omar Davis in the 25th minute and prop Othniel Holness in the 30th minute secured additional 4-pointers. Ellis converted only one of the tries.
Campbell then blasted his way to another try for UTech in the 38th minute and UTech went into the break trailing 8-16 to the defending champions.
In the second half the feast of tries continued for both teams. GC Foster scored an amazing 14 points within the first 20 minutes of the restart. Holness bullied his way to his second try in the 45th minute and Lumsden and Steven Allen supported the big man with two tries of their own, one of which was convererted to give GC Foster a commanding and 26-8 point lead after 60 minutes.
UTech finally began the difficult task of getting back into the game when national winger Marvin Thompson broke down the defense on the right side and raced in for a well worked try in the 65th minute. Kemoy Whyte made the conversion to take his team to 14 points. Mannin Marsh, perhaps the fastest rugby league player in Jamaica, then blazed his way down the left hand side only two minutes later for another 4 pointer, Whyte once more made the
conversion.
GC Foster, sensing that their grip on the game was fading, turned to their experienced stand-half Davis, who, although playing with a dislocated finger, bustled his way through several tacklers to give his team a commanding 36-18 point lead with only 5 minutes remaining.
UTech, cheered on by their supporters continued to press the attack as they sought a miracle. They scored again when stand-half Damon Gayle kicked a lovely bomb to the right side and winger Everton Williams gleefully caught the high kick almost untouched for another UTech score. Gayle was not finished as he found the try line himself just three minutes later and Whyte converted to have the home team trail by only a converted try with two minutes on the clock. The home crowd roared their heroes on towards one final score and the improbable draw. At the restart, they knocked on and GC Foster recovered the ball, however, after getting to tackle 5, GC Foster then knocked on themselves and UTech got the feed at the scrum with 30 seconds on the clock deep in their own half. They were unable to find a way through the defensive line and the whistle sounded to end the game
The competition continues on Saturday February 12 when UWI hosts Mico at home. Kickoff is 1pm at the UWI bowl.
Match Details
Saturday Feb 10, 2011, 4:00pm
Venue: UTech, Kingston
Half Time Gc Foster 16-8
Crowd: 250
GC Foster Lions
Tries: Othniel Holness (2), Omar Davis (2), Stephen Allen, Clive Henry, Aldaine Lumsden Conversion: Lamar Ellis (3), Aldaine Lumsden