CHANCE DOYLE scored a match-winning try on the stroke of full-time to lead USA South Rugby team to a 26-18 victory over the Trinidad and Tobago national rugby team in the 2013 North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Rugby XV’s Championship final yesterday on Fatima College ground.
“It’s an achievement we haven’t reached ever,” trainer Sean Bowman said, as the three-year-old American South Rugby team celebrated after the final.
An evenly-fought final saw the teams balanced at 18-18 with a quarter hour to go. USA South went ahead 21-18 when Lucas Baistrocci converted a penalty, but were under heavy pressure in the final few minutes as T&T looked to pull level. But after withstanding the late pressure, the Americans struck a decisive blow in the final minute when Doyle powered his way to a try near the corner. That left T&T with no chance of recovery.
USA South brought a power game to the final, having several huge men among their players, while T&T’s chance came from speed of movement. Technical deficiencies ultimately cost Trinidad and Tobago valuable points and the match, since they failed to convert each of three tries scored. The Americans also dominated the scrums and line-outs.
T&T had good start, taking a 5-0 lead when centre Joseph Quashie scored a try and late converted a penalty as well. But American South rallied to lead 11-8 from two penalty conversions from Baistrocci and a try from Jeff Reutheu.
Trinidad and Tobago were ahead again in the 34th minute when Quashie scored in the corner for a 13-11 lead, but outside-half Nelson Figaro failed to convert.
A long kick into the T&T half and a favourable bounce saw Amir Khan getting USA South a second try, which was successfully converted to see the visitors leading 18-13 at the half. A powerful surge from the half-line saw Wayne Kelly scoring to pull T&T level, but once again they failed to get the extra two points by missing the conversion. And with the teams looking very well-matched, the Americans finished strongest and won the final.