REGGAE WARRIORS 34 DEF. CANADA 12 IN KINGSTON MEN'S INTERNATIONAL

Jenson "Gas" Morris

Jamaica defeated Canada in their senior Men's international at the University of West Indies’ Mona Bowl in Kingston last Saturday. With international ranking points on the line, the senior men’s side overcame the Canada 34-12- avenging the defeat suffered to the visitors last October in Toronto.  Centre Tahj-Jay Lynch in only his second international for Jamaica, bagging a brilliant hat trick.

“I would like to thank Canadian Rugby League for sending two teams, especially at a time that our country is going through so much after the hurricane here,” said Jamaica men’s coach Roy Calvert. “It has been a real morale boost.

“We had a very rough, interrupted preparation but we stuck to it, the guys did what they were asked to, gave 80 minutes effort, and that pulled us over the line.”

Jenson celebrates

Back rower Jenson Morris and Lynch with his opener got the hosts off to a flying start, Jason Chuck with the first of his two tries crossing for the visitors who were behind 14-4 at the break. Ricardo Richards and Joseph Daley crossed inside four minutes straight after the break to extend Jamaica’s lead, Chuck and winger Oliver Lenahan – who also played in the f U19s curtain raiser game - sandwiching a further two Lynch touchdowns.

Crowd loved every moment

Canada men’s head coach, Aaron Zimmerle, commented: “It was a pleasure for us to come to Jamaica. I know the country is hurting after suffering through the hurricane and for our players to see how theirs have rallied around that, there are things more important than the result.

Tah-Jay Lynch aerial battle

“We had nine debutants, and I was really proud with a couple of our younger ones, Oliver Lenahan was our most damaging player. To see him come through the Canadian player pathway system, I’m excited to see what he and others like him can become.”

Jamaica 34

Ben Jones Bishop, Kenneth Walker, Ricardo Richards, Tahj-Jay Lynch, Kamarine Williams, Chevaughn Bailey, Michael Pearson, Daniel Graham, Marvin Thompson, Kevin Thomas, Jenson Morris, Andrew Simpson, Owen Linton

Subs: Aaron Jones Bishop, Kyronn Fairclough, Joseph Daley, Akeem Murray

Tries: J. Morris (4), Lynch (10, 69,76), Fairclough (32), Richards (42), Daley (46)

Goals: Bailey 2/6, A. Jones Bishop 1/1

Canada 12

Jacob Bourne, Jalen Harrison, Jason Chuck, Colin Crozier, Darian Archer, Rhys Jacks, Greg Wise, Dan Martyn, Toby Horn, Chuck Curran, Qais Nasseri, Augustus Murphy, Scyler Dumas

Subs: Robin Legault, Doug Howard, Blake Marshall, Oliver Lenahan

Tries: Chuck (20, 64), Lenahan (74)

Goals: Bourne 0/3

Half time: 14-4

Referee: Kemoy Whyte