Having lost their previous two Grand Finals appearances, the team from Mountain View made amends this year, in a match that was dubbed one of the best ever seen at this level in Jamaica.
Excelsior’s main strike threat was Akeem Murray, whose sniping runs and passes from dummy half earned him MVP honours.
Winning coach Roy Calvert said: “The boys really wanted this one; their preparation was geared towards improving every game.
“It was pleasing to see almost all the players playing their best game in the Grand Final, when it mattered most. I commend losers CMU for a really high quality game.”
CMU scored first after five minutes when powerful center, Shaquiel Pollack crashed over on the left edge and Alpachini Mignott converted. EXED responded in spectacular style with 16 unanswered points, as Murray, Donhue Sinclair, Towayne Dawkins and Kahil Green had all posted unconverted tries by the break.
After the break, CMU came out a different team, launching a series of raids in a six minute spell which paid dividends, when Orlando Messado and Cares Stephenson each powered their way over, and Mignott converted both to put his side 18-16 ahead with 25 minutes remaining.
Both sides then had a number of chances to score. CMU’s Messado and EXED’s Joseph Berry both lost the ball over the line, leaving the decider delicately poised with 10 minutes remaining. It was EXED scrum-half Owen Linton who finally posted the game breaker, crossing the line from close in, with Green adding the extras..
GC Foster College claimed third place with a close-fought 28-22 victory over the University of the West Indies Pelicans. GC Foster was led by Adrian Thomas who bagged two tries, while Joseph Starr and Shane Miller scored a brace each for UWI.
