Noel Maxwell chases down a Barbadian player during the weekend's 7-a-side Rugby Tournament held in Babrbados. Maxwell finished with four tries in the U-19's first ever regional competition. Photo: Provided

The BVI U-19s against their Barbados counterparts in Barbados at the weekend. Photo: Provided

The BVI U-19s against their Barbados counterparts in Barbados at the weekend. Photo: Provided

The BVI U-19s against their Barbados counterparts in Barbados at the weekend. Photo: Provided

The senior rugby side also made the trip and played two games against Barbados, losing 15-7 against a Select VII and losing 21-0 to the full Barbados side. Photo: Provided

Maxwell, now a student at Cedar International School, has been in the BVI Rugby Union’s development programme right from the beginning and showed great speed and much skill in all three games played against the Barbados U-19’s.

In the first game, a narrow 15-12 defeat to the Barbados Yellows, he scored twice with both from 50 metres out including a scintillating move that started with Rory Thornton and ended with Maxwell side stepping two defenders before “going over”.

Unfortunately, the game had started badly for the BVI with nerves resulting in several handling errors and a well worked Bajan try. However, as the first half drew to a close some tough BVI tackling led to a turn over and Maxwell’s first try. In the second half, the BVI’s enforcer, Kareem ‘Burger’ Etienne made some strong runs and bruising tackles and alongside Austin Keil ensured that the BVI would not be physically intimidated. A lapse in concentration let Barbados in for a soft try but the BVI rallied well with Maxwell once more running in from 50 metres to take the score back to 15-12.

The BVI had a chance to win the game in the last minute with Shamarie Spencer just failing to finish off another penetrating move.   

In the second game against Barbados Blue, the BVI having learnt from the last game made an excellent start with Maxwell and Thornton running in first half tries. In the second half, the BVI scored through Grashaun Audain and a fourth try for speedster Maxwell. The Bajans managed two scores but never looked in the game as Keil, Etienne, Thornton and Maxwell controlled the game which ended 24-12 to BVI. There were also pleasing performances from Dan Petrovic, Cleus Staple, Kenrick Thomas, Calden ‘Chubby’ James and Eugene Maduro. Unfortunately for the BVI, with only two minutes to play talisman Thornton was felled by a strong Bajan tackle that brought his tournament to an early end. 

In the final game against the full Bajan national side, Thornton’s leadership and reading of the game was sorely missed as the Bajans ran in three early tries in the first half as BVI heads dropped. After some stern words and encouragement at half time, the BVI played much better in the second half but could not score and the end result was a 15-0 loss.

Coach Sam “Solo” Solomon, the BVIRU’s Development and Senior Coach, noted that it had been a wonderful experience for his young charges. Not only had the tour given the chance to gauge their levels against stronger Regional competition but also given them a chance to impress in front of the seniors as well as the National Selectors who have to meet soon to pick a squad to go to the Cayman Islands for the NACRA Tournament in November where the BVI  will face no less a power house than the USA.

Certainly the likes of Thornton, Keil, Audain, Maduro and Etienne are big and fit enough to play men’s rugby so the future looks bright. For coach Solo, with youngsters such as Adriel Singh, Victor Emparo, Staple, Thomas, James and Petrovic who all have at least another 3-4 years of Under 19s rugby, the challenge is to build a 15-a-side team to compete next year in the NACRA championships and beyond.

The senior side also made the trip and played two games against Barbados, losing 15-7 against a Select VII and losing 21-0 to the full Barbados side.

The full U-19 squad included Rory Thornton (Working, ex-Cedar), Grashaun Audain (HLSCC – Elmore Stoutt), Eugene Maduro (HLSCC – Elmore Stoutt), Kareem Etienne (HLSCC – Elmore Stoutt), Daniel Petrovic (USVI), Noel Maxwell (Cedar), Austin Keil (Cedar), Kenrick Thomas (Elmore Stoutt), Calden James (Elmore Stoutt), Melvin Knight (Seventh Day), Shamarie Spencer (Seventh Day) and Cleus Staple (Seventh Day).