HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Guyana came to Bermuda for the first time confident they could avenge defeat at home last year but left a well-beaten side after losing the Caribbean Rugby Championship final 18-0 at the National Sports Centre on Saturday.
Guyana skipper Ryan Gonsalves conceded Bermuda, the top-ranked side in the region and hosting the final for the first time, were the betternteam on the day.
“We tried our best,” he said at the trophy presentation afterwards.
Bermuda won last year’s final 11-0 in Guyana and took a firm grip on Saturday’s game by racing into a 13-0 interval lead as they frustrated the visitors’ trademark running game.
Fly-half Ian Henderson accounted for 13 of Bermuda’s points, despite being yellow-carded just before half-time. He landed two early penalties, converted a first half-try by David Pringle and scored a try himself after he had returned from the sin bin.
Lawrence Bird, Bermuda’s head coach, said he was relieved his side had completed the job in front of around 300 supporters.
“We’re very relieved, every game has been difficult although I believe we have got better every game,” he said.
“I thought we started pretty well and played some controlled rugby and defensively we were superb. To keep Guyana out to nil for two finals on the trot is a phenomenal achievement for the lads who have worked so hard.
“At half-time we were in a good position but I told the guys that it only takes a few seconds to score.
“I felt that if Guyana had passed when they should have passed instead of hanging onto the ball then it would have been a far closer game.”
Bermuda skipper Pete Dunkley hailed his team’s “huge effort” after beating the Cayman Islands at home and the Bahamas away to reach the final.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game against Guyana who are capable of putting three scores on the board in a blink of an eye,” said Dunkley.
“It’s been a tremendous journey which started a few years ago when we were preparing for last year’s Caribbean Championship.
“It been a huge effort from all of the guys who have been training three times a week and I’m really appreciative to all the guys in the squad.”
Bermuda now progress to the next round of 2015 World Cup qualifiers.
