Rugby League Jamaica (RLJ) staged its annual New Year 9’s festival at the UWI Mona Bowl in Kingston last Saturday.

Nineteen teams turned up to contest four categories, including Wigan-Leigh College from England.  

Tries from Kenneth Walker (2), Marvin Thompson, Jade Harrison and Akel Jenson led Duhaney Park Redsharks to a 24-12 win over Washington Blvd Bulls in the men’s final.  

For the Bulls, Oshane Edie (2) and Linval Green replied with tries. Jamaica Defence Force shutout St Bess Sledgehammers 24-0 for third, while St Catherine OB Thundercats and Liguanea Dragons finished 5^th and 7^th respectively, topping West Kingston Hyenas and Spanish Town Vikings. 

The Women’s final was a hotly contested affair between Redsharks and Sledgehammers. Shanique Smith and Allison Frazier rushed the winners to 8-0 lead before Sledgehammers came roaring back through scores from Yanique Days and Yianna Wilson. It needed sudden death extra time to settle the affair, and it was Smith who produced a brilliant solo break to settle the matters. 

In Boy’s Academy U19 finals, Jamaica Hurricanes Academy A edged English outfit Wigan-Leigh College 12-8.  Scorers for Jamaica were Damoy Palmer, Tyreke Hutchinson and Shevaugh Smith, the latter scoring in extra time. Both Wigan tries came from Toa Bayliss. The win marked the first ever by a Jamaican domestic team over an English team in any format of the game. Meanwhile, in the High School U19 Category, BB Coke High school got the better of The Cedar Grove Academy 12-8.

Director of Romeo Monteith commented, "RLJ is extremely pleased with the execution of the tournament, we had competitive games all round and Wigan-Leigh added an excellent international flair to this staging."

Rugby League Jamaica (RLJ) kicked off its 2023 calendar of events by staging its annual New Year 9s tournament at the University if the West Indies last Saturday.  West Kingston Hyenas emerged as winners of the Men’s category that featured 10 teams. 

The Hyenas defeated the Jamaica Defence Force 8-4 in the finals to claim their first ever Rugby League Jamaica title. In the third-place play-off, the Duhaney Park Redsharks defeated Washington Blvd Bulls 12-4.  Other senior teams included Liguanea Dragons, Caribbean Maritime University Spartans, Portmore Rugby League Club, Duhaney Park Firestorms, Spanish Town Vikings and St Bess Sledgehammers. 

In the U19 Boys Open category, St Bess Sledgehammers emerged as champions, defeating Liguanea Dragons 24-8 in the final. In the third-place game, Cedar Grove Cyclones B defeated Cedar Grove A 16-12. 

According to Rugby League Director Romeo Monteith, "It’s a good start to the year, the tournament was a success in all areas, most community teams came out with both senior and junior teams and have set the tempo for the year. After losing out to the Bulls in the RLJ Summer 9s last year, it’s fantastic to see the Hyenas claim their first rugby league title and speaks to the competitive nature of the short version of the sport. Amongst community teams."