Cedar Grove defends U19 Rugby League title in dominant win over BB Coke

By Sports Desk December 01, 2023

In an engaging finale at Campion College, the Rugby League Jamaica/Flash Ship Couriers National U19 Championship concluded on Tuesday, with defending champions Cedar Grove Academy securing their second consecutive hold on the coveted title. Displaying a dominant performance, the champs successfully fended off the challenge from BB Coke High, securing a resounding 26-6 victory.

Cedar Grove's victory was anchored by standout performances from Melvin Harris and Kaden Hunter, each contributing with two tries, while Hunter also showcased his kicking prowess by adding a goal. Additional try-scorers for the champs included Jahsemia Tulloch and Tajay Brown. BB Coke's lone try came from Tyrone Davidson, and Domique Myers added a goal.

Expressing his joy over the victory, winning coach Antonio Baker remarked, “We are elated that we won. Our victory is a culmination of years of hard work and a continuation of our dominance at the U19 level, seeing that we also won the championships last year. I am very proud of the progress the boys are making and hope that they will transition to playing the sport at the adult level.”

In the battle for the third-place position, host Campion College faced a closely contested match against Calabar High, ultimately losing 2-1 on drop-goals after both teams were deadlocked in a 12-12 tie following full and extra time.

Calabar's try-scorers, Tevez Tulloch and Tyreke Hutchinson, made crucial contributions, with goals coming from Dean Griffiths and Timor Osbourne. For Campion, Deshawn Gordon and Jaleel Green scored tries, while Josiah Neil kicked two goals. In the kick-off, only Maliq Morris made a successful kick.

 

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    Friday’s results

    Campion College 1, St Jago 0

    Mona High 3, St George’s College 0

    Hydel High 1, Wolmer’s Boys 0

    STATHS 1, Kingston College 0

    Saturday’s fixtures

    St Catherine vs Jamaica College

    Calabar vs Charlie Smith

    Excelsior vs Jonathan Grant

    Tivoli Gardens vs Eltham

    *All games are scheduled for 3:00pm

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    The game continued at a decent tempo as Jamaica College grabbed the ascendancy six minutes later when Gibbs well-taken free kick from way out eluded all and sundry and bounced into the net for his eighth of the season.

    They should have added another in the 43rd, but Gibbs dragged his right-footer wide of the target after doing well to dismiss his marker.

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    Both teams continued to trade blows on the resumption as Calabar pulled level on the stroke of the hour-mark when Campbell arrived in time to tap in from close range after Aiken spilled Jaiquan Stewarts's cross.

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    Saturday's early results

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    Eltham 2, Excelsior 3

     

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