Iguanas win Heineken Charity Shield

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 9 January 2018

John Doak Iguanas - 2017-18 Heineken Charity Shield winners

If someone left the Cayman Islands Rugby Club at halftime of last Saturday’s 2017-18 Heineken Charity Shield game between Fidelity Cayman Storm and John Doak Iguanas, they may very well have been surprised by the outcome.

On a wet and breezy afternoon in South Sound on 6 January, it was all Cayman Storm in the first 40 minutes, as they looked to win back-to-back Charity Shield games with a 10-0 lead at the break. That would be all the scoring the Storm would do, as the Iguanas came to life in the second half to win 42-10.

“I don’t think we played the conditions right in the first half. It’s difficult in the wind and rain to get out of our own 22. I think we made some basic errors and our execution wasn’t very good,” said Iguanas captain James Padden.

He said his side took time at the interval to assess the conditions and come up with a better execution strategy.

“In the second half, we played the conditions very well. I think we had a strong bench and in the end, I think our execution in the second half was much better and it showed in the end,” he told CaymanSportsBuzz.com in a brief post-match interview.

Padden was full of praise for how the players came together toward a common goal. “Today was more of a team effort. We didn’t play well as a team in the first half. I think we did excellent in the second half. In the end, it was more of an individual effort than any individual player that won the game for us.”

Next up is the Alex Alexander Memorial Championship, which begins on 27 January. “We’re looking forward to it. Can’t wait,” Padden said eagerly moments after his side were presented with the shield by Cayman Rugby Football Union president Derek Haines.