Keighley Cougars hooker Jamaine Wray had the honour of captaining his country last weekend in what was no ordinary game.
The Cougar Park rake was part of the Jamaican team’s first competitive international, which saw them lose 37-22 to the United States in their Hotels of Jacksonville.com Atlantic Cup clash at the Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida, Jacksonville.
A crowd of 2,000 witnessed ‘reggae rugby’, which gave the visitors the upper hand before the favourites hit back to triumph.
And Wray (pictured) was at the heart of much of Jamaica’s good work, dominating the ruck and pinning the Tomahawks back through an excellent tactical kicking game.
Two early scoring opportunities were squandered before Wray slotted over a penalty, and Jamaica extended their lead when Bradford Dudley Hill’s Danny Thomas sent in winger Wayne Rettie (York City Knights).
However, an interception try gave the United States a lift, although Rettie’s second try, converted by Thomas, put the Caribbean outfit 12-10 ahead at half-time.
The United States, who completed only six of their 18 sets in the first half, had three back-to-back sets at the start of the second half, and scored twice in quick succession but Wray sliced through after 53 minutes, Hunslet centre Michael Brown then crossing from close range to make it 22-22.
But the United States then scored 15 unanswered points.
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