Barbados started their 2007 Caribbean Championship campaign with a convincing win over Massachusetts in their first warm up game. Taking the opportunity to blood some youngsters the starting line up was a mixture of seasoned players from last years national squad and several of the U19 squad. Playing into a strong wind Barbados received the kick off and immediately showed their intention to play an open and expansive game as the ball was spun wide only for a forward pass to prevent a certain break through. From this scrum it could be seen that the Barbados pack were going to dominate as the MASSACHUSETTS scrum was driven backwards. MASSACHUSETTS cleared the ball up field to Barbados the fullback R. Sweeting who returned ball into the MASSACHUSETTS half with a good touch finder. Where Barbados would dominate the scrums the MASSACHUSETTS forwards were very well drilled in the line out and won this restart uncontested. The ball was moved into centre field and the Barbados defence forced a knock onand the referee R. Parris whistled for a scrum. The ball was won quickly and A. gibbons playing in the unaccustomed role of Outside Half showed superbe pace breaking down the blindside with R. Padmore in support, the gritty MASSACHUSETTS defence eventually stopped the forward movement but a well executed ruck saw the ball quickly moved to K. Payne who danced around the retreating defence to score wide out. Barbados 5 – MASSACHUSETTS 0

Massachusetts restarted with a high kickoff which was knocked on by the Barbados forwards and was regained by the MASSACHUSETTS pack who drove mercilessly to the Barbados goal line. Solid defence by the Baa backs forced a turn over but unfortunately the clearing kick was charged down and the MASSACHUSETTS second row won the race for the touch down scoring an unconverted try. Barbados 5 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. A. Gibbons restarted for Barbados with a high drop kick which allowed the Barbados pack to force the MASSACHUSETTS receiver to knock on the ball gaining a scrum in the MASSACHUSETTS 22metre area. The ball was quickly won and passed wide to M . Leacock who was tackled just short of the line. The referee whistled for a Barbados 5metre scrum from which number 8 J. Rock picked up and drove for the line shaking off several would be tackles in the process of scoring an unconverted try. Barbados 10 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. Unfortunately the restart kick was sliced and went straight to Barbados centre K. Payne who set off with blistering acceleration to run around the MASSACHUSETTS defence and score wide out. The try was unconverted. Barbados 20 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. The Barbados team started to lose some of its structure and gave away many penalties for offside and hands in the ruck which allowed MASSACHUSETTS to dominate later part of the first half using their line out forwards to great advantage. The Barbados defence held out and were leading 20 – 5 at half time.

Several changes were made to the line up with K. Cummings, J. Millar, T. Tulip, S. Ward, D. Shepherd & K. Walcott coming on as replacements. Barbados kicked off and J. Millar put in a thumping tackle on the MASSACHUSETTS receiver causing the ball to be spilt, MASSACHUSETTS scrambled the ball away and drove up the middle of the field where hard tackling by the Barbados defence allowed Barbados to recover the ball and move it wide to speedy winger S. Ward who was tackled just short of the line. However D. shepherd showing good speed for a big man was up in support to gather the ball and fall over the line to score an unconverted try. Barbados 20 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. With the Barbados forwards putting great pressure on MASSACHUSETTS scrum, the visitors were having difficulty winning their own ball and eventually D. Shepherd rumbled over under the posts for his second try which was converted by A. Gibbons. Barbados 27 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. The visitors were now finding it hard to get out of their own half and were continually defending against a determined Barbados team. The territorial advantage and possession Barbados was enjoying was eventually rewarded with a try scored by K. Walcott and converted by A. Gibbons. Barbados 34 – MASSACHUSETTS 5. More changes were then made to the Barbados team for the last quarter as J. Bynoe, O. Bynoe, T. Grant, K. Griffiths, L. Jordan, J. Goddard & B. Benskin came on as replacements. Barbados continued to move the ball wide on all occasions but several knock ons and forward passes prevented further scores. K. Griffiths was eventually put clear but a desperate tackle by the MASSACHUSETTS fullback forced him into touch at the corner flag. MASSACHUSETTS won the following line out and cleared the ball up field to half way. Despite plenty of possession the Barbados play became slightly disjointed and the only score in the last quarter was brilliant individual effort by A. Gibbons sidestepping several defenders to score a try under the posts which he converted. Barbados 41 - MASSACHUSETTS 5

Team M. Varga, D. Bagwell, P. Meyers, P. De Munnik, H. Reid, C. Cosier, G. Moseley-Clarke, J. Rock, M. Rees, A. Gibbons, R. Padmore, K. Payne, C. Whyte, M. Leacock, R. Sweeting

Replacements K. Cummings, J. Millar, T. Tulip, S. Ward, D. Shepherd, K. Walcott, J. Bynoe, O. Bynoe, T. Grant, K. Griffiths, L. Jordan, B. Benskin.