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Mexico played host to the Cayman Islands this afternoon. The match in Mexico City was the final test match for teams from the Americas for the year of 2021. Las Serpientes were 39-13 winners at home against the Caymans.
Despite the big win, it was the Caymans who held an early lead. Captain Conal Keane landed an early penalty to put the visitors 3-0 up. Mexico hit-back in the 11th minute. Center Juan Pablo Martínez made a clean break and off-loaded to fullback Martin Pacaud who touched down in the try zone for the opening try of the contest. Franco Guerrero converted to give Mexico a 7-3 lead.
Try number two also went the way of Las Serpientes. Pressure in the scrum saw Mexico winning a penalty deep inside Caymans’ territory. Guerrero missed the resulting penalty shot at goal. The Caymans’ kicked the drop-out dead. It gave Las Serpientes a scrum deep in Cayman territory.
Mexico won the scrum and ran to the right. Sharp passing found Fharid Sámano who went over untouched. The 32nd minute try gave Mexico a 12-3 lead late in the opening half. The Caymans’ hit-back late in the first half. A scrum penalty resulted in Keane reducing the deficit to 6 points.
The scoreline would return more in Mexico’s favor as half-time approached. Mexico scored their third try with captain Maximiliano Douek awarded a try shortly before half-time.
Las Serpientes’ 11 point lead had Mexico well positioned for a win. Thi remained the case despite Mexico having a disallowed try. Martínez had made a break down the left flank. Subsequent phases and quick ball opened space for Alejandro Chávez to dot down the ball in the try zone.
The early second half momumtum also went the way of Mexico. Guerrero added a penalty to extend the lead before Las Serpientes went into the try zone for the fifth time. Tomás Allen ran clean and off-loaded to Manuel Garrido. The replacement front-rower defied his position to step and run clear for the score.
The teams traded late tries. Zach Hutchinson went over for the Cayman Islands and Alan Gutiérrez responded for Mexico. With it the final score was a 26 point victory for Las Serpientes.
SCORING
MEXICO 39
Try – Pacaud 11′; Sámano 32′; Douek 39′; Chávez 40′; Garrido 53′; Gutiérrez 78′
Con – Guerrero 12′, 54′, 79′
Pen – Guerrero 24′
CAYMAN ISLANDS 13
Try – Hutchinson 73′
Con – Keane 74′
Pen – Keane 3′, 36′
TEAMS
MEXICO
1 Jesús Rico, 2 Mizael Loredo, 3 Maximiliano Douek (capt.), 4 Abubacar Conde, 5 Tomás Allen, 6 Tobías Hernández, 7 Nicolás Falcón, 8 Alan Gutiérrez, 9 Andrés Rodríguez, 10 Luc Martín, 11 Fharid Sámano, 12 Franco Guerrero, 13 Juan Pablo Martínez, 14 Sebastián Garza, 15 Alejandro Chávez
Replacements: 16 Alejandro Pradillo, 17 Jorge Cortés, 18 Manuel Garrido, 19 Borja Mandaluniz, 20 Luis Rosete, 21 Mauricio Moreno, 22 Patricio Falcón, 23 Luis Ángel Galindo
CAYMAN ISLANDS
1 Hugh McBride, 2 Alex Manfield, 3 Ronan McMahon, 4 Dylan Bostock, 5 Mark Soto, 6 Marnus Ehlers, 7 Ranald Henderson, 8 Christof du Toit, 9 Justin May, 10 Conal Keane (capt.), 11 Roberts Spiers, 12 Michael Luxton, 13 Mikey Wilson, 14 Blake Egelton, 15 Martin Pacaud
Replacements: 16 Joe Brown, 17 Steve Owen, 18 Pete Sherwood, 19 Jeff Robinson, 20 Venasio Tokatokavanua, 21 Thomas Kehoe, 22 Zach Hutchinson, 23 Thomas Sperandao
