Jamaica Women's Rugby League player Shanique Smith
On the eve of preparations to compete in the Naples 9s Tournament on Saturday, May 20, in Florida, the National Women’s rugby league team has received a boost from two corporate entities to assist in their participation in the tournament.
Local company Mailpac Group Ltd. has come on board to assist the team. The arrangement will see the Women Reggae Warriors jersey display the company logo on the front of the playing shirt.
The Reggae Warriors will feature players from the Jamaican domestic league, Canada, and the US. The tournament will be the second representative opportunity for the women’s team since they participated in the Americas 9s in Toronto in 2019.
“It is an exciting time for women’s rugby league in Jamaica. We are determined to provide adequate representative opportunities for our ladies and in this instance, Mailpac’s support is warmly welcomed and will impact our national female athletes in a positive way,” said Mike Williams, the team’s manager.
Meanwhile, the management of Mailpac Group Ltd wished the team the best of luck for the tournament.
“The management of Mailpac Group Limited wishes to extend best wishes for success to the team as they compete in Naples!”, it said in a statement.
The team has also garnered support from Florida based company, On The Spot Loans LLC. The company’s logo will feature prominently on the team’s off-field wear for the tournament.
“We are happy to have the assistance of On The Spot Loans LLC, we are looking forward to building the relationship, especially for when we compete in tournaments and games in the USA,” Williams said.
Meldiana Parker of On The Spot Loans LLC said, “We are proud sponsors of the Women Reggae Warriors 9s team. We wish the team all the best, and we will be there in person to show our support.”
The women’s bracket will feature four teams - Jamaica Reggae Warriors, Carolina Blues, New York Roots and Carolina Storm.
The men’s draw features eight teams in two groups. Group One features Jamaica Exodus, New York Roots, Southwest Florida Copperheads and Cleveland Rockers. Group Two features Carolina Storm, Jamaica Hurricanes, San Diego Barracudas and Miami Speed.
Jamaica Women Reggae Warriors
Angel Griffiths, Brenda Doctor, Carole Kelly, Crystal Groves, Daina Fearon, Debisha Scarlett, Janelle Cole, Johneeka Smith, Kamoya Forrest, Kimberly Coombs, Lokara Walker, Moesha Bogle, Naomi Dodd, Shanae Gordon, Shanique Smith, Shawna-Kay Douglas, Sherine Johnson, Trishana Wilson.
Wigan win League Leaders Shield with victory at Leigh
Wigan Warriors claimed the League Leaders Shield on points difference from Catalans Dragons and St Helens with a hard-earned victory over near neighbours Leigh Leopards.
Tries from Jai Field and Jake Wardle plus a conversion from Harry Smith looked to have put Matt Peet’s side on course for a routine victory.
But Leigh hit back just before half-time with a try from Lachlan Lam, added to by Ben Reynolds which cut the deficit to 10-6.
No points were scored in a titanic second half as Wigan were forced to hang on for their eighth straight win, which secured top spot in Super League and the shield which they were presented with on the pitch after the game.
Leigh started the night in fourth but dropped to fifth after Hull KR’s big win at Wakefield. It means Leigh will face Hull KR – the team they beat in the Challenge Cup Final – at Craven Park in the play-offs.
The home side were without influential skipper John Asiata for the third game running through a shoulder injury. Former Wigan centre Zak Hardaker was also missing with a hand problem.
It was an explosive start in front of a sold-out crowd at the Leigh Sports Village with both sides coming up with some big hits to make it a crackling atmosphere.
The home side had looked the more likely to open the scoring but it was the visitors who struck first in the 18th minute. Field showed great footwork after taking Smith’s pass to beat three Leigh defenders and score in the corner. Smith – making his 100th appearance for Wigan – added the conversion to make it 6-0.
Wigan had beaten Leigh three times already this season and scored a second try 10 minutes later – Smith and Field combining on the left edge to send Wardle in at the corner. Smith could not add the goal but the Warriors looked in control at 10-0.
The introduction of Joe Mellor from the bench gave the Challenge Cup winners some impetus and they finished the half strongly. Reynolds combined with Kai O’Donnell on the left edge and Lam hit the pass at pace to cut through and score. Reynolds kicked the conversion to cut the deficit to just four.
Both sides felt aggrieved to see potential tries disallowed in quick succession early in the second half. Field was pulled back after an earlier obstruction before Oliver Gildart’s effort for Leigh was sent to the video referee and ruled out after lengthy deliberation.
Leigh continued to press in the closing stages but they were thwarted by some determined Wigan defence.
Lucky 13 – Who has starred in Super League this season?
The regular Betfred Super League season comes to a close on Friday night with both the League Leaders’ Shield and the sixth and final play-off slot still up for grabs.
Ahead of the announcement of the official 2023 ‘Dream Team’ this weekend, the PA news agency selects its own all-star line-up from the campaign so far.
Jack Welsby (St Helens)
The flashy 22-year-old full-back remains a cut above most of his rivals and has played an integral part in helping Paul Wellens’ men shake off their sluggish early season and re-emerge as a threat at the business end.
Abbas Miski (Wigan)
Just a year after being loaned out to Championship side Newcastle Thunder, the Lebanese winger has evolved into a try-scoring machine for the Warriors, his 27 taking him into the final week of the regular season joint-top of the standings.
Adam Keighran (Catalans)
Brilliant with the boot and equally at home at centre, hooker or in the halves, Keighran – who will move to Wigan at the end of the current campaign – has been a crucial element of another successful season in the south of France.
Jake Wardle (Wigan)
Wardle’s move to Wigan last October raised few eyebrows but the 24-year-old has exceeded expectations at centre, underlined by a superb first career hat-trick in the 50-0 win over Leeds earlier this month.
Tom Johnstone (Catalans)
Johnstone, equalled only by Miski in the season’s try count, has been a revelation in his first season in Perpignan, his trademark surges down the left flank suggesting his previous injury issues are now a thing of the past.
Bevan French (Wigan)
Having migrated to the halves in mid-season to help solve a minor injury crisis, French appears to found his true home under head coach Matt Peet, seamlessly transferring his speed and invention on the wing to a much more pivotal role.
Lachlan Lam (Leigh)
A model of consistency in Leigh’s spine, Lam has been one of the biggest reasons for their phenomenal success, and fittingly kicked the golden-point winner after a man-of-the-match performance in the Challenge Cup final.
Paul Vaughan (Warrington)
His season may be set to end in ignominy after a four-match ban for unnecessary contact, but few will dispute the juddering impact the Australian prop made in the early part of the season, when Wire were intent on sweeping all before them.
Edwin Ipape (Leigh)
Tirelessly influential, constantly probing, only Saints veteran James Roby came close to matching Ipape’s impact at number nine this season, as the Papua New Guinea international adapted superbly to life in the top flight.
Tom Amone (Leigh)
Only Vaughan has made more metres from the front row this season, and the Tongan’s gritty consistency has been a major factor in the success of his team-mates in the Leopards’ all-action spine.
James Bell (St Helens)
Bell has been a revelation in Saints’ second row this season, adding strong defence to a more consistent attacking threat to make himself an indispensable part of head coach Wellens’ late-season revival.
Matt Whitley (Catalans)
Whitley has been a model of consistency in his five seasons with Catalans and saved his best for the current campaign. His impending addition to a congested Saints back row for 2024 is a coup for Wellens.
Elliot Minchella (Hull KR)
That KR’s injury-hit campaign did not buckle after their Challenge Cup final loss to Leigh is largely down to Minchella, whose increasing influence steadied the Robins’ ship and marked him out as the stand-out number 13 in the competition.
Red Sharks and Bulls to clash in Jamaica Rugby League finals, September 31
The 2023 National Club Championship Grand Finals (NCC) will contested between Duhaney Park Red Sharks and Washington Boulevard Bulls after both registered wins over Liguanea Dragons and West Kingston Hyenas, respectively, in semi-final action on Saturday at the UWI Mona Bowl.
The showdown set for Sunday, September 31 at the University of the West Indies' Mona Bowl, will be a repeat of the 2022 Finals.
The Red Sharks will be making their seventh consecutive finals appearance and 15th overall in 17 seasons of the Jamaica Rugby League. This will be the Bulls’ second appearance in the finals.
In the first semi-final on Saturday, the Oshane-Eddie-coached Bulls battled their way to hard-fought 43-32 a win over West Kingston Hyenas. Bulls came out firing on all cylinders, racing to a 26-6 lead at half time. However, the Hyenas came roaring back in the final 40 minutes and almost pulled off the upset with the Bulls forced to hold on for the final five minutes.
“I’m really pleased with the effort of the players and staff make it to our second Grand Finals, and I must commend the Hyenas for a well-played game, they finished really strong,” Eddie said following the bruising encounter.
Bulls scorers: Tries: Howayne Mattis (2), Ronaldeni Fraser (2), Oshane Edie, Hakeem Richards, Shaneal Brown, Chevaun Smith. Goals: Shamoy Stewart (4), Edie. Drop Goal: Edie
Hyenas: Andrew Hylton (2), Neville Lynch, Raul Thomas, Omar Jones, Kamarine Williams. Goals: Damar McKoy, Hylton (2)
In the second semi-final, Duhaney Park overwhelmed Dragons 56-4.
The defending champions seemingly scored at will while consistently snuffing out scoring opportunities for their opponents, especially in the first 20 minutes. By half-time, the defending champs were in full ascendancy having built a 26-6 lead.
Red Sharks center Ryan Grant led all scorers with 22 points.
“I must praise the team's defensive resolve,” said Head Coach Roy Calvert following the lopsided affair. “The Dragons threw a lot at us early, especially around the ruck area. We were on the ropes for a bit in the early exchanges, but the boys hung in there and kept turning up for each other. To be able to limit them to one try is awesome and I am proud.”
Red Sharks scorers: Tries: Ryan Grant (2), Kenneth Walker (2), Akeem Murray, Javion Bryan, Tahjai Maitland, Chevaugn Bailey. Goals: Grant (7), Bryan
Dragons: Tries: Adrian Hall. Goal: Michael Pearson
The Red Sharks beat the Bulls twice in the round-robin stages of the competition and are firm favourites to win yet another title.
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