Caribs knock off Bajans in rugby

TRINIDAD and Tobago rugby giants Caribs opened the Southern Caribbean Club Championships with a 41-18 triumph over the Barbados National team at the Savannah One pitch. Ace kicker Brent Barry converted a 35-metre penalty to open the scoring for Caribs, and the fullback extended the score to 10 -0 in the seventh minute, scoring and converting on his own try. West Indies Exiles player Antonio Gibbons made no mistake with his penalty, reducing the deficit to 10 -3 before the lead shot back up to 24 -3, with tries from Caribs’ captain Bernard Yetming and Barry as well as two conversions from Barry.

The Bajans got three further points after a drop goal from Leroy Barrow but national players Brendan O’Farrell (conversion) and Barry (try) teamed up to give Caribs a 31- 6 halftime lead. Ronald Silverthorne and Barry combined to extend the lead to 38 - 6 early in the second half, but Gibbons recorded a conversion to make thescoreline 38 - 11. O’Farrell scored a 37-metre drop goal in the 70th minute before a try from Stuart Mottley, which was subsequently converted by Gibbons, delayed the inevitable for Caribs. There will be little rest for Caribs though, who will oppose traditional rivals Northerns in the Bruno Browne Cup this weekend.