Bruno Browne 2008

[Bionic man]

Caribs RFC successfully defended the coveted Bruno Browne Cup defeating arch rivals Trinidad Northerns 32 points to 16 and in the process secured the Championship Division League Title, a title which has eluded Caribs since 2004 as the club has undergone a transition with the retirement of some more experienced players and blooding of younger ones.

Northerns opened the scoring with evergreen veteran Mickey Browner slotting a drop goal from 28m out for a 3 nil lead. Caribs, though behind, stuck to the game plan and pressed in earnest in the Northerns defensive third and eventually converted the pressure into points with tries from Jason Clark, who scored the first of his brace n the day and veteran Ronald Silverthorne who chipped the Northerns full back and recovered a beautiful bounce to dot down in the corner, to make the score 10 ? 3. Browner again kept Northerns in the hunt as he slotted a penalty from 32m to see the score line at half time a narrow 4 point lead for Caribs at 10-6.

In the 2nd half, the Caribs pack, well marshalled by scrumhalf Bernard Yetming, kept the pressure on affording veteran maestro Brendan O?Farrell at outhalf enough time and space to keep the Northerns defence unsettled with tactical kicking which eventually led to Clark?s 2nd item which was converted by O?Farrell. Northerns responded with a former Caribs winger - Ryan Fredericks try in the corner as they gained a man advantage with substitute prop Ronald Annandsingh of Caribs being sent to the sin bin soon after taking the field. Caribs did not seem unsettled and Caribs skipper had a push over try soon after which was again converted by O?Farrell to take the score to 24-11.

A well taken drop goal from Don Rojas Jr. added 3 points to the Caribs score and a powerful run from substitute winger Ryan ?Bumpy? Brown taking a switch off fullback Jonathan O?Connor saw him scoring a try in his Bruno Browne debut. A late item from national captain Adam Fredericks made the final score 32 points to 16, with victory to Caribs RFC.