An outstanding performance from Cougars hooker Jamaine Wray couldn’t prevent Jamaica from losing 36-26 to the USA in their Atlantic Cup opener on Tuesday night.

Wray led by example and scored a second-half try but was also involved in a bizarre incident that proved vital in the course of the game.

With the scores locked at 26-26 and Jamaica mounting an attack, the Atlantic Cup’s official medico and US team doctor went on to the field during a stoppage and suggested Wray should be examined for concussion.

The Jamaican team objected and after lengthy discussion, referee Phil Bentham, who admitted later that he was surprised by the incident, ushered the doctor from the field and play resumed.

USA opened the scoring in just the second minute when fullback Kenny Britt was put into a gap by five-eighth Brent Shorten and he did the rest by running in under the posts untouched. A Nate Smith conversion gave the home team an early 6-0 lead.

Jamaica struck back within ten minutes when centre Greg Johnson got the first of three scores to level things up. There were seven lead changes before the Tomahawks finished on top.

Meanwhile Barry Eaton is involved in talks with both Tom Hemingway and Neil Roden as he continues the search for Danny Jones’ replacement. Hemingway starred for Blackpool last year and is looking for a club following the Panthers’ recent demise, while Roden was a key figure in Oldham’s charge to the Champion-ship One Grand Final.