…locals down Jamaica 31-7 to win Guyana’s lone Gold at the 2010 Championships
GUYANA’s Sevens Rugby team carved its way into history when they claimed the first Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Sevens Rugby title by defeating Jamaica 31-7 yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
It was the first time that the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CASCO) has added Rugby (Sevens) to the list of competition since 1926 and as such yesterday’s win of Jamaica has solidified Guyana’s place in history.

As a matter of fact, the rugby team’s win is Guyana’s lone Gold medal so far in the CAC games this year which has its other events presently being played in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_American_and_Caribbean_Games – cite_note-1

Guyana made its way to the finals with a 28 – 7 win over Venezuela, then toppling one of the pre-tournament favourites Mexico 31 – 0 in the semi-finals.

Jamaica who stopped the Bahamas 15 – 0 in the quarter-finals, pulled off one of the tournaments upset win over Trinidad and Tobago, who many pundits had to at reach the finals.

The Reggae Ruggers convincingly whipped the Trinis 21 – 10 to face Guyana in the finals.

It was a result no one expected giving the fact that Jamaica has been out of sort in the preliminary stages of the tournament and Trinidad and Tobago have doubled their preparation for the CAC tournament.

But in the finals, it was clear that Guyana who word back by a high vociferous crowd at Guyana’s world renowned facility, meant business when team Captain Claudius Butts broke through a gap in the Jamaican defence and headed to the end zone to score his side’s first try in the first few minutes of the game.

Theodore Henry made good of the conversion and sent the home side into a 7-0 lead and then the dreadlocked would score a try of his own after he bullied his way through the tight Jamaican back line, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd.

Ryan Gonsalves scored the conversion and the Guyanese went into the second half leading 14 – 0.

The second would see Jamaica scoring a their only try and conversion of the clash after which UK based player Dominic Lespierre powered his way to the end zone but the conversion which was taken by Ryan Gonsalves sailed wide of the uprights.

Leading 19 – 7, Back player Richard Staglon capitalized on a Jamaican error on offense and found his way to score only his second try of the tournament but Rupert Giles could not have made the kick.

Dwayne Schroeder, who was brought into the game in the second half, worked his way through the Jamaicans who by then body language spelt “we give up” and Ryan Gonsalves scored the conversion to seal Guyana’s historic win 31 – 7.

After the game, Technical Director Joe Whipple said that while he was happy with the team’s gold medal winning performance at the CAC games, the journey is far from over with his focus being transforming the team to that of any other world class Sevens playing nation.

He added with the Commonwealth Games in sight in October his wised will treat every game here after as important especially with the Caribbean Championships starting tomorrow with the women’s lead of the tournament at the Guyana National Stadium.

Conroy Omally, Coach of the Jamaican National team congratulated Guyana on the win and lauded his team whom he side many wrote off reaching the finals of the tournament based on their lack of proper preparation leading up to the historic affair.

In other results, Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 10 – 5 to take home the Bronze medal while the Bahamas was too strong for the Venezuelans whom they defeated 16-15 to finish fifth and the Cayman Islands finished seventh with their 38-0 win over the Costa Rica.

Caption: Fan Support! This rugby fan certainly came out in support of the home side as he reviled behind the history making Guyana’s 7s Rugby team who defeated Jamaica yesterday to win the CAC Gold Medal.