IT was a day of mixed fortunes for the Guyanese ‘Ruggers’ in Colombia, on the opening day of the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Sevens Championship.

After playing to an impressive 22 – 7 win over Costa Rica in their first ‘Group A’ game yesterday, Guyana, more popularly known as the ‘Green Machine’ on the rugby circuit, fell 10 – 14 to rivals Mexico in their second game. Guyana also played Colombia in their final group game, but up to press time, the game was yet to start.

In their win over Costa Rica, Captain Dwayne Schroder, along with Claudius Butts, Avery Corbin and Peabo Hamilton scored a try each, while Ronaldo Mayers bagged the lone conversion in the game.

For Costa Rica, Byron Monge scored a try and the team’s conversion came from Julian Padilla.

In their second, Guyana came face-to-face with a familiar foe; their Rugby Americas North (RAN) nemesis Mexico, in a game what many pundits would’ve been the most entertaining for the open day’s action.

The game lived up to its billing. Butts scored the only try in the first half and Guyana held on to a 5 – advantage.

However, things took a turn in the second half, when Mexico when Alberto Ripoll and Juan Martinez both scored tries and Andres Rodrigues scored both conversions to push the Mexicans to a 5 – 14 lead over Guyana.

With a minute remaining in the contest, winger Patrick King crossed the try line to pull Guyana back 10 – 14, but time would run out, leaving Guyana to fall in the first defeat at the CAC Games.

In 2010, the Guyanese ‘Ruggers’ won gold at the CAC Rugby championship when it was hosted at the Guyana National Stadium, and to date, they remain the only team to win gold for Guyana at the CAC Games. (Rawle Toney)