dic.06.2009

After failing last year to win the National 7s Rugby title- University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Rugby 7s joined other UTT Academy of Sports and Leisure High Performance teams and scholarship athletes on the rostrum of national title holders by dethroning Rainbow Sports and Cultural Club to win the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union(TTRFU)National 7s rugby championship.

Yesterday at the Queens Park Savannah, UTT avenged their (22-14) loss to Rainbow in last year’s final by defeating Rainbow 21 -12 in an entertaining semi final encounter. The turning point in the tournament final came mid way in the second half when Harvard captain Wayne Kelly, playing in UTT colours- made one of the -if not the hardest tackle for the year on Rainbow's Anton Celestine to snuff out the defending champions momentum. Kelly's hit dislodged man from ball and head gear just as Celestine seemed set to breach the UTT try line. At that point had Rainbow scored the results may have been different.

UTT then went on to beat Stag Trinidad Northern 21-5 in the final to claim their first ever National rugby title.

The day, however, got underway under a cloud of controversy when local rugby powerhouse Caribs refused to play Rainbow in the opening game of the tournament. Reports indicate that Caribs are refusing to play new arch rivals Rainbow until a disciplinary report made against the Train Line-Marabella based Community Organisation is adjudicated on by the TTRFU Disciplinary Committee. Caribs also boycotted the Rainbow 7s.The Caribs' first team were considered a genuine title contender for the prestigious Lou Barrow Memorial Trophy

The Simone Andrews-Nero coached Aranguez Romans are the new TTRFU women’s national 7s rugby champions. Romans whipped defending champs Royalians 15-0 .However, Yamaha Caribs from Guyana played unbeaten to claim the Trinidad Enthusiasts Rugby Festival title.

A major disappointment on the day was the ruling by the TTRFU fixtures committee not to have an Under 19 competition this year opting instead to showcase the Schools Union U14 and U 17 new image non contact rugby instead. This decision forced youngsters from the national Union’s Rural and Community under 17 and 14 programmes to watch from the sidelines.

Harvard defending National Under 19 7s champs Rainbow 2nds, YTC, Royalains and Caribs 2nds comprised of mainly U 19 players. So even though they were inexplicably denied the opportunity to defend their title the youthful Harvard team -defeated YTC 10 -7 in the Plate final.