Army end Police rugby reign

DEFENCE FORCE have ended Police’s four-year stint as holders of the Inter Services Rugby Cup with a 10-5 victory at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. The Police Rugby Club, celebrating 25 years in existence, failed to open the scoring in the third minute when national player Allan Fraser missed a penalty kick. The first half ended scoreless with the lawmen’s defence, led by captain Mark Balkaran, thwarting the relentless attacks from the Army-Coast Guard combination. But the pressure paid off for Defence Force, with Gerard Paul muscling his way through the Police’s backline and scoring his try in the 54th. Defence Force failed to widen the lead in the ensuing conversion, and the lawmen equalised though a try from Marlon Francis, speeding past the Army’s defence from a Balkaran pass. Francis missed his conversion, and that error will return to haunt the Police squad as Anthony Marshall caught the lawmen defence napping and scored an easy try, sealing the win for the Teteron lads.