UG Wolves ready to rumble with the big boys
AFTER successfully hoisting the GRFU 10s trophy, the Pepsi Hornets are now ready to sting their way through the competition tomorrow, to add the Banks DIH 7s title to their collection. But it will be no easy task, as surprising new kids on the block – the University of Guyana – say that they are ready to hang out with the big boys.The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will host the Annual Banks DIH Sevens tournament tomorrow at the National Park Rugby Field and with a spot for Guyana’s Sevens team in this year’s NACRA Championship in Mexico in sight, rugby fans can expect an all-out war.
Newcomers Police and Yamaha Caribs are the other teams in the one-day tournament that will see new champions crowned, since last year winners, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), said that their main players are still recovering from injuries sustained during the season.
But though it’s clear from the response given by the coaches and players in the tournament that the Army men would certainly be missed, one would not argue that the freshly groomed rivalry between the Hornets and the UG Wolves is enough to keep the competition interesting.
“We’re just looking to have a good day and we’re not going to take anyone for granted,” said Hornets captain Ryan Gonsalves who was speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport at his team’s practice session yesterday in the National Park.
“As we say, Sevens is for the quick and the dead. As for my team, we’re looking pretty good but we’re now trying to get back into Sevens mode because we’ve been playing a lot of 15s and 10s Rugby over the last couple of months and we’re hoping to bring this out,” said Gonsalves.
Gonsalves who also captains the GRFU’s national unit, said that his squad has a mixture of some old stalwarts and some fresh faces and that will see them to the trophy.
But according to the new hotshots’ UG Wolves coach Lawrence Adonis, there’s a thin line between them and the top teams in Guyana, most of whom are not too pleased about playing against the hungry wolves in any competition.
“I think it’s just a thin line between us and the top teams, I think we’re better skill-wise and more prepared and I also don’t feel that Guyana Rugby is ready for us because sometimes I get some real bad calls from the officials. That’s why I say Guyana Rugby is ready for us but we’re going to see how best we’ll cope with the situation,” Adonis told Chronicle Sport.
Adonis further pointed out, “I know it’s hard to break into the top of Rugby in Guyana but these young players are really sticking to their guns and we can handle anything. We’re ready to showdown with anybody not just Hornets because these young guys are hungry; so we’re looking forward to the tournament.”
The elderly Adonis is a well-respected figure in the sport, having devoted almost his entire life to the development of the game and the non-participation of the GDF leaves him disgruntled, pointing out “I’m disappointed that the Army is not participating. I like competing with the army and it’s a part of Guyana Rugby to have the Army there all the time because of what they bring to the different tournaments.”
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) will make their return to the sport and Adonis opined that over time, just like his University of Guyana team, the Police men will get better.
(By Rawle Toney)
