Guyana deny TT rugby spot at ‘worlds’

Trinidad and Tobago drew 5-5 with Guyana in the second match of their South Caribbean Under-18 Rugby Cham-pionship play-off at the President’s grounds, St Ann’s on Saturday.

However they failed to qualify for the Under-19 World Cup finals. Guyana, in addition to winning the South Caribbean Champion-ships will now play in the finals instead. Guyana edged their hosts 13-10 at the same venue on Friday and took the two-match series 1-0. In the same second match on Sunday, TT scored early but the Guyanese youngsters showed tre-mendous grit and determination fighting back to draw level and resolutely deny the home side a victory.

TT coach Derek Dow-nie commenting after said that his team had every opportunity to win but could not capitalise on the opportunities provided. He however believes that the failure of the team to advance to the Under-19 World Cup finals will act as a motivation for the pursuit of the place in the 2005 tournament. Downie congratulated the Guyanese and noted that their victory augurs well for rugby in the region, now that there is a keen rivalry between the two countries at the age-grade level. In August TT traveLled to Guyana where they won the West Indies Rugby Union Under-16 Championships — edging hosts Guyana in the final.