MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico, (CMC) – Wayne Legerton struck twice but Trinidad and Tobago were forced to settle for silver in the men’s hockey competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games as they went down 3-2 to Mexico in the final on Saturday. Coming into the game unbeaten on the back of a string of impressive victories, T&T stumbled at the final hurdle, conceding a goal in the second half to slip to defeat at the Yldefonso Solá Morales Stadium, after scores were tied at the half-time break.

They were undermined by the brilliance of Emmanuel Moreno Quiroz who scored a hat-trick to spearhead Mexico’s victory.

Legerton did his best to keep T&T in the encounter, scoring twice in the first half but his effort proved futile in the end.

Mexico, who also played unbeaten in the tournament, took an early lead when Quiroz scored in the fifth minute.

However, T&T hit back through Legerton to level the scores three minutes later as he converted a penalty corner.

Mexico were back in front in the 26th minute but Legerton responded again two minutes later to leave the game locked 2-2 at the break.

The second half proved competitive until Quiroz proved to be T&T’s undoing, stroking home from a penalty corner in the 56th minute to seal the gold medal for Mexico.

Barbados, meanwhile, claimed bronze after beating the Netherland Antilles 3-0 in the third place game while Jamaica took fifth spot with a 13-0 spanking of Panama.

In boxing, Bahamian Valentino Knowles copped gold in the men’s light welterweight (-64kg) class when he defeated Venezuela Luis Romero 6-2 on points.

The Games were expected to wrap up yesterday.