UNITED STATES of America (USA) South edged Trinidad and Tobago 19-17 on Saturday on the opening day of the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Men’s Under-19 tournament.
At the Fatima College Grounds in Mucurapo, Trinidad and Tobago got three tries, from Joel Baird, Jonathan Blackburn and Leroy Wilson respectively, while Leon Pantor scored a conversion.
Assistant coach Brendan O’Farrell remarked yesterday, “both teams played very well. Trinidad and Tobago played a bit more expansive.”
He continued, “It could have gone either way. It was a very good match, under good conditions.
“I’m a little disappointed for our boys. We’ll have to rely on Mexico beating the USA on Tuesday and then we beating Mexico on Thursday.”
In the earlier game of Saturday’s double-header, Barbados strolled to a comfortable 14-0 triumph over Jamaica.
Action resumes today at the Fatima Grounds with Bermuda opposing a Trinidad and Tobago Club Select at 2 pm while the Turks and Caicos Islands will be facing British Virgin Islands at 4 pm.
Tomorrow the Cayman Islands tackle Barbados and Mexico face USA South. On Wednesday, Turks and Caicos meet a TT Club Select while Bermuda battle the British Virgin Islands as well. TT are back in action on Thursday against Mexico while the Cayman Islands and Jamaica meet in the day’s other fixture.
The tournament features 10 teams in two groups - the NACRA Cup and the NACRA Trophy.
The NACRA Cup comprises of the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Barbados (Pool A), Trinidad and Tobago, USA South and Mexico (Pool B).
And, in the NACRA Trophy, the entrants are Bermuda, St Vincent/Grenadines (Pool A), British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands (Pool B).
Matches will take place every day until the finals on July 19.