In front of one of the largest crowds seen at a local rugby game in recent memory, defending champions Caribs rugby football club retained the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) Toyota Championship Division League title with a courageous and emotional come-from-behind 13-10 win over arch rivals Stag Trinidad Northern, at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, on Sunday. The victory also earned Caribs the coveted Bruno Browne Cup.

Local rugby's long-standing derby lived up to its history and tradition.

Heavy showers a few hours before kick-off made ground conditions testing for the two teams, and referee Paul Mowser was kept very busy in a match that kept the large crowd in the Carib Beer stand on the edges of their seats.

There was a lot at stake for the Beer Boys as they went into the match on 39 points, one behind Harvard Club. Caribs, therefore, needed a win or a draw to retain their Toyota Championship Division League title.

Before the game kicked off, one minute's silence was observed by players and spectators for deceased Caribs player Kendall Mootoo. A number of spectators wore red tee shirts with the number 13 (Mootoo's playing number).

It was Stag Trinidad Northern, however, that drew first blood, with a penalty conversion by Justin Mc Clean. By halftime, though, Caribs were level at three-all.

Northern, the Bruno Browne Cup holders, regained the advantage five minutes after the resumption with a Gordon Dagliesh-converted try. 10-3.

Caribs, with both their Toyota title hopes and the Bruno Browne Cup slipping away, raised the tempo of their game, and were rewarded with a Jason Clark-converted try. 10-10.

With about 10 minutes to go, Northern infringed, and Mowser had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, which Caribs successfully converted to edge ahead 13-10.

In the dying seconds of the game, it was high drama and tension as Northern had an opportunity to snatch victory. But Caribs would not be denied.

At the end of the game, the Caribs team went towards the group of supporters wearing the red number 13 jerseys, and acknowledged their fallen comrade. Twenty-one-year-old Mootoo died last week Monday and was buried on Friday.