Bermuda’s second Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men’s 15s Tournament match saw them fall again.
Bermuda traveled to Trinidad a week after falling 48 – 28 to USA South at the National Sports Center.
A late flurry by the Trinidad attack was the difference in a tight rugby game against Bermuda at St Anthony’s College Ground in Westmoorings.
The hosts edged a gritty Bermuda team 27-24 to begin their campaign in the championship division. In losing both matches Bermuda is now facing relegation. The bottom placed side from the Americas Rugby North Championship is to be relegated to the Americas Rugby North Cup.
Bermuda showed aggression early in the second half to take a 17-14 lead and stun the hosts and their fans, but an energetic Trinidad unit held their nerve to see off their plucky rivals.
Bermuda took a 5-0 lead in the ninth minute after some solid play on the left side led to a try on the right side. Conor McGowen made the conversion to make it a 7-0 advantage for Bermuda. It was a sluggish start by Trinidad as Sebastian Navarro missed a penalty kick in the 13th minute.
Two minutes later, Kirby Hosang got the first try for Trinidad, and the match was levelled with a conversion by Navarro. In the 31st minute, some intricate passing by Trinidad on the right side almost led to a try, however, Trinidad fumbled the ball meters away from the goal line.
There was nothing sloppy about the play of Trinidad’s Jesse Richards in the 36th minute. Richards picked up the ball in the middle of the field and ran 30 meters to complete the try for Trinidad. The conversion was good to put Trinidad in front 14-7 at halftime.
Bermuda started the second half positively, and a try and conversion knotted the scores. A penalty kick followed to give Bermuda a 17-14 advantage. After Navarro levelled the score with a penalty kick, Trinidad came to life and fell just short of a try on the right side. Anderson Joseph got a try to give Trinidad the lead and Trinidad ended the match with a burst of energy. Another penalty kick by Navarro gave Trinidad a 27-17 advantage. Bermuda got a late try and conversion, but the final whistle came to give Trinidad a close victory.
