Mexico blast Bermuda in World Cup Qualifier

Mexico defeated Bermuda 75-10 in a one-sided affair in Mexico City. The Rugby Americas North match doubled as a qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Bermuda got on the board first with a penalty goal from Tommy Edwards. Mexico responded with a breakout try for Rodrigo Márquez, but an unlikely 50-metre dash from Edwards from an interception put him in under the sticks. Dan Cole took the kick this time to give Bermuda a surprise 10-7 lead.

That would be the end of the highlights for the Bermudians, who conceded 10 unanswered tries starting with the first of four to Christian Henning. While the visitors had the edge in the scrum, they had no answer for the speed of the Mexican attack.

Henning proved a dominant figure in the midfield while replacement flanker Gonzalo Pons scored twice in the second half. Fullback Agustín Sanchez did the honours with the kicking, converting 10 of 11 for a personal haul of 20 points with the boot.

Bermuda will now host the Bahamas on June 4, while Mexico will have a month-long wait before welcoming the Cayman Islands on July 2.

MEXICO 75
Tries – R. Márquez 2 (9, 59), C. Henning 4 (22, 32, 44, 52), L. Arredondo (36), A. Rodriguez (46), G. Pons 2 (54, 79), S. Pierre (73)
Cons – A. Sanchez 10 (10, 24, 33, 37, 45, 47, 53, 55, 74, 80)

BERMUDA 10
Tries – T. Edwards (15)
Cons – D. Cole (16)
Pens – T. Edwards (5)

MEXICO
1 Marcos Flegmann 2 Mizael Loredo 3 Max Douek (capt.) 4 Santiago Prieto 5 Roberto Calderón 6 José Reyes 7 Alberto Ruiz 8 Simón Pierre 9 Andrés Rodriguez 10 Miguel Carner 11 Luis Arredondo 12 Pascal Nadaud 13 Christian Henning 14 Rodrigo Márquez 15 Agustín Sanchez

Reserves: 16 Jesús Rico 17 Erik Castillo 18 Cesar Treviño 19 Gonzalo Pons 20 Santiago Leboriero 21 Yeudiel Suro 22 Diego Ramírez 23 Rodrigo Ripoll

BERMUDA
1 Darren Richardson 2 Conor McGlynn 3 Dustin Archibald 4 Peter Dunkerley (capt.) 5 Adam Richards 6 Thomas Greenslade 7 Bennet Gibson 8 Roedolf van der Westhuizen 9 Tom Healy 10 Tommy Edwards 11 Nigel Burgess 12 Paddy Graham 13 Aldon Campbell 14 Antonio Perinchief-Leader 15 Dan Cole

Reserves: 16 Chris Stafford 17 Jahan Cedenio 18 Chris La Placa 19 Tashon De Silva 20 Aldo Campbell 21 Richard Howells 22 Jahniko Francis 23 Mandela Caeser

Referee: Harry Mason (RC)