By Floyd Christie
The host nation’s rugby Sevens team fittingly claimed the gold medal after defeating Jamaica in the final of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games rugby Sevens tournament yesterday at the National Stadium, Providence.

The Guyana team ensured that the gold medal for rugby’s first staging of the CAC Games would remain on home soil when they out-hustled and out-muscled a towering Jamaican team  31-7 in the final yesterday.

Guyana’s Team Manager Robin Roberts said yesterday he was especially proud of the team’s display.

”I’m very proud of the team. It showed that they have been working hard as a unit and they have been sticking to the game plan”, Roberts said afterwards.

After taking down Mexico 31-0 in their semi final game, the Guyanese faced the Jamaicans who, in turn, had held off a fighting Trinidad team 21-10 to secure an upset win in their semi-final encounter.

In the final the underdog Jamaicans were easily disposed.

They often found themselves constantly darting unsuccessfully behind the host players when Guyana began their onslaught of tries.

Guyana’s Captain Claudius Butts was the first to breach the Jamaican try line.

Butts intercepted a pass in an attacking position and, with room to make his move, the crafty Butts duly gave Guyana the lead with his try which was converted by player/coach Theodore Henry.

“We came into this tournament knowing that we were the team to beat, so we just came out and took it one game at a time,” Henry said after the game in an invited comment.

“The guys played excellent, I couldn’t ask for anything more, it was a total team effort,” he added.

Henry was also in the thick of things, muscling  his way through the Jamaicans to score Guyana’s second try with the defenders latching on to his uniform.

But they could not bring the robust Henry down and his try was converted by Ryan Gonsalves.

The Jamaicans were being outclassed on the field by Guyana’s superior game even as their supporters were out matched in the stands by the vociferous Guyanese backing which spurred the local team to their commanding position.

Dominic Lespierre and Richard Staglon capitalized on openings in the defensive back line-up to give Guyana two more tries which were unfortunately not converted. The Jamaicans were eventually compensated for their determined efforts with their first try late in the second half which was duly converted.

But Guyana responded through Dwayne Schroeder’s lengthy run across the opposition’s try line to give Guyana their game winning total following a successful conversion by Gonsalves.

Jamaica however didn’t exit the CAC Games empty handed as they secured CAC silver while Mexico upset Trinidad and Tobago 10-5 in their third place game to cart off the bronze medal.