The champions of the Caribbean South competition earlier in the year proved far too strong for the Bahamas, champions of the north in a match played under lights at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

From the first moments of the game, Barbados seized the initiative, launching an opening onslaught that saw them race to a 10-0 lead inside 12 minutes. Bahamas

kept their composure to register three points through a Raymond Simpson penalty, but those points were all they could muster as Barbados built an irreversible 31-3 half time lead.

To their credit the Bahamas never dropped their heads, even in a morale-sapping second half, and the uncompromising and physical encounter was befitting of a match of such importance.

Elsewhere in Americas RWC qualifying, Paraguay defeated Brazil 45-8 in Round 2.

Barbados-Bahamas details:

Barbados XV: Martin Varga, Donovan Bagwell (69 min Greg Moseley-Clarke),Greg Anstead, Matt Anstead (51 min George Nicholson), Kip Blumenshein(72 Adon Rogers), Stephen Millar, Jamie Vernon, Steven Stewart, Mike Rees (72 Denniston Shepperd), Stuart Copeland, Antonio Gibbons, Dominic Peters (69 Troy Grant), Kurt Johnson, Omar Bynoe (60 Jonathan Goddard) ,Barrie Green.

Replacements: (Greg Mosely-Clarke, Paul Mullard, Adon Rogers, George Nicholson, Troy Grant, Denniston Shepherd, Jonathan Goddard.

Tries: Barrie Green, Kurt Johnson 2, Stephen Millar 2, Mike Rees, Dominic Peters, Steven Stewart.

Conversions: Stuart Copeland 6

Bahamas XV: Garfield Morrision ( 81 Nelson Botin), Mario Rolle, Roussos Manoli (73 min Shane Garner), Marcus Cheetham ( 75 John Gates), Timothy Thompson (43 min Patrick Arthur), Devon Woodside (52 Jackelo Pierre), Albon Gibson, Dorian Roach, Kevin Salabie (William Pilcher), Matthew Payton, Raymond Simpson, Jeremico Cooper, Jammal Curry (78 Phillip Davis), Giovanni Rolle, Dominick Stubbs.

Replacements: Shane Garner, Nelson Botin, Patrick Arthur, John Gates, Jackelo Pierre, William Pilcher, Phillip Davis.

Penalty: Raymond Simpson

Referee: Alan Gray (Canada)