The Guyana Rugby team suffered mixed fortunes on the first day of competition in the Rugby component of the Pan American Games on Saturday at the XVI edition of the Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Playing in Pool A of the eight-team tournament, along with Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico, the local ruggers lost their opening game against Uruguay 20 points to nil and their second game to Argentina by 40 points to nil, Chef-de-Mission Noel Adonis reported.
The team however, recovered to defeat the host country by 12 points to 5.
In the win against Mexico, Claudius Butts and Kevin McKenzie scored tries for Guyana and captain Ryan Gonsalves added a conversion.
Argentina played unbeaten in Pool A to top the group on Day 1, followed by Uruguay with two wins. According to assistant coach Theodore Henry, Guyana was the third placed team in the Pool and moved on yesterday to a quarterfinal match-up against the USA team, the second placed team from Pool B.
In Day 1 competition in Pool B, Canada emerged as leaders of that group with wins against the USA, Brazil and Chile. They were followed by the USA, Brazil and Chile, in that order.
Competition leading up to the finals will continue at the Tlaquepaque Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.
