Oklahoma University defeated the Jamaican national team March 17 in the Jamaican capital of Kingston, edging their hosts 23-20.

The match was a tough meeting for both teams - Jamaica beat St. Vincent by 40 points the week before and will be facing Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup Qualifier.

Oklahoma is in Jamaica playing 7s and 15s as preparation for the Varsity Cup in April. The Jamaicans were bigger and faster than the Oklahomans, but OU controlled possession in the loose throughout the match and played very strong defense in the midfield.

The match was a slugfest in the forwards with moments of spectacular speed by the Jamaican outside backs. OU pounded inside and drove the Jamaican pack late in the match to secure the wins

OU scored first with a Vincent Fairbairn penalty kick about three minutes into the match after multiple phases deep into the Jamaican end. Jamaica leveled the score with a drop kick by their scrumhalf. At about 12 minutes, Oklahoma flyhalf J'Son Townes capped off a long period of phases by the Sonners, running in from short range. Jamaica tied it with a long break by their fullback.

Flanker Fairbain pounded through after multiple phases, putting Oklahoma back in the lead at 13-8.

Jamaica responded by pulling their wing wide and ran their halfback weak off five-meter scrum move to tie it up at halftime 13-13.

OU opened the scoring in the second half with another Fairbairn penalty kick from 22 meters at 58 minutes.

The play of the game was an interception by outside center and captain Tom Murphy, who dove face first into in-goal to increase OU lead to 21-13. Townes converted to make it 23-13.

But Jamaica wasn’t done, and put the pressure on. After a number of huge hits and two Sooner pushover tries not allowed, the Jamaicans scored on a really long break with a number of offloads to narrow the score to 23-20 with two minutes left.

The crowd sensed a comeback, and with time ticking down Jamaica took a lineout at midfield. But OU lock Alex Campbell stole the ball and the Sooners won the ruck and kicked to touch to end the game.

"This was a historic match for us as Oklahoma has never played a National Team and it was an epic battle against some incredible athletes, the guys came together to find a way to win,” said OU Head Coach Doug Neubauer.

Oklahoma also won the first match of the tour against the Montego Bay Panthers 89-36 on March 15, and finished second in try Negril Sunslash Sevens Rugby Tournament, losing to the Mona Titans in the final.

The Titans were all National Team players, led by the electric Andrew Pang, who scored 40 points on the day and three tries in the final. OU did notch wins over the Jamaican Defense Force, St. Catherine's, and the Spanish Town Vikings.

The tour was a great success according to Director of Rugby Jon Velie. "Playing a national team of superior athletes in a hostile environment forced out team to find something in themselves and deal with adversity. Imagining and accomplishing this goal really helped this group become a team."