Favourites Old Harbour eyes first national rugby title

Match time is 2:30 pm and is preceded by third placed play-off between Calabar High and Cedar Grove Academy at 1:00 pm.

The Devaughn Stewart conditioned aggregation are unbeaten this season conquering all before them including their opponent in the final who they dispatched 22-14 in the preliminary round.
But they are not taking anything for granted heading into the biggest showdown of their young careers.

“Training this week was very positive. We didn’t just focus on the physical preparation of the final but also mentally we had different conversations, different team talks on what we need to do and what we don’t need to do,” Stewart told Old Harbour News in an interview.

Stewart said reaching the final is the culmination of its three-year programme that started in 2016. After completing his teaching degree at the Mico University, Stewart returned to his alma mater, where he’s using the sport of rugby to transform boys into positive role models.

Many of those boys are now on the verge of creating their own history, having tasted success at the under-16 level. This particular group, however, knows what it feels like to lose a final. They were beaten by BB Coke High in last year’s under-19 final, but now they are more mature and eager to erase such painful memory.

“One of the major plus is that all the boys really work together,” said Stewart, a teacher of the social sciences and Old Harbour native.

While the team is well rounded, a lot will be dependent on the Walters brothers – Tavel (centre) and Rodaine (playmaker) – both of whom have been called a few times to the national junior set-up but yet to achieve selection.

Needless to say, it will take a very, very special effort by the Campionites to derail this Old Harbour train.