Dustyn Molver, playing fly-half, was the catalyst and his quick thinking led to an intercepted pass and he dove over to reduce the deficit to just 5 points during the first half. Photo: Supplied

A final well worked line out close to the St Lucia line saw the BVI pack power over and from the maul Andre Adams clinched his third try of the afternoon to seal a dramatic 41-35 victory. Photo: Supplied

Speedster Melvin Knight was one of a few youngsters making their debuts at this level. Photo: Supplied

Next up for the BVI team is a game against Curacao in the 2nd round, a game which will be played on the A.O. Shirley Ground in three weeks time. Photo: Supplied

Next up is a game against Curacao in the 2^nd round, a game which will be played on the A.O. Shirley Ground in three weeks time.

St Lucia were clearly wary of the BVI, which is a mixture of young and inexperienced players, especially at this level, with a core of hardened veterans, and came out early with some fast back play which caught the visitors napping not once but twice as they raced into a double digit advantage.

Both “tries” came down the flanks but they failed to convert the extra points on both occasions and the BVI steadily fought back into the game as their nerves settled.

Dustyn Molver, playing fly-half, was the catalyst and his quick thinking led to an intercepted pass and he dove over to reduce the deficit to just 5. Further pressure saw centre Tom Chapman score in the corner to level the scores at 10-10. Molver missed both conversion attempts from the try but did succeed with a penalty attempt giving the BVI a 10-13 lead.

The BVI began to dominate the scrums and line outs, but St Lucia were more than a match in the second phase, bullying the BVI into numerous turnovers.

The BVI did manage to rumble over from a lineout where a catch and drive saw flanker Andre Adams sneak over for a well worked set piece try and the Lucian’s forced a penalty and then a breakthrough for a try, which was successfully converted, making the half time score 20-18 to the hosts.

More casual play in defense at the start of the second period saw St Lucia increase their lead to 25-18.

The BVI, however, gathered themselves and once more battled back into the game with Andre Adams building on some forward pressure and scoring from a pick and go from a ruck on the St. Lucia line. A further Molver penalty took the score to 25-26.

As the game progressed, Coach Solo rang the changes by bringing on Lester Hamer for Adrian O’Neill at prop, debutant 16 year old powerhouse Austin Keil for fellow junior speedster Melvin Knight on the wing, and Simon Knight for second row Ed Vasquez, who like O’Neill, had worked tirelessly in the pack.

The new players took a little time to settle into the pace of the game and St Lucia took full advantage to regain the lead through their Prop Forward, who powered over the line to make the score  30-26 lead. Like so often in the past though talisman and scrum half, Jimmy Peters skipped past a couple of tackles and fed Molver who scored his second try of the game, which he then converted to restore the BVI to a 30-33 lead.

Gaining a second wind and confidence having taken the lead, Molver, Peters and Kiel were full of running, full-back Victor Franklyn began pulling the strings defensively and playing with speed and skill, the backs were also putting on a show with some slick passing that led to the move of the match.

Spreading the ball across the pitch looking to create space, Tom Chapman saw the opening, side stepped, skipped past two defenders and burst for the line only to be stopped just a few feet short of a score by a last ditch tackle. From the turnover ball St Lucia hacked the ball the length of the pitch, and putting pressure on the BVI back three, scored a critical score to restore a 35-33 lead.

That score came in the last ten minutes of play and the home side were already starting to celebrate. However, it proved premature as the BVI threw everything at the hosts and forward pressure led to a penalty close to the St Lucia line, which Molver coolly slotted to give BVI the lead at 35-36. A final well worked line out close to the St Lucia line saw the pack power over and from the maul Andre Adams clinched his third try of the afternoon to seal a dramatic victory.

Speaking after the game, Captain Donovan Staple dedicated the result to the people of the VI, and Coach Solo stressed that a lot of work needed to be put in ahead of the visit of Curacao in three weeks. “It was great that we got the win but we made life pretty tough for ourselves. This was the first full competitive start for Vasquez and Knight and they learned a lot, likewise Kiel who came on looks a bright prospect. Whilst the forwards did well in the set piece the breakdown is a concern where we need to be more astute and aggressive. The backs are improving but we need more games for the new guys to get experience. Ultimately we got the result and are bringing rugby back to the BVI let’s hope we get a good crowd for the visit of Curacao. If we win that then we play Barbados again.”