Add a seventh NACRA 7s championship trophy to Team Guyana’s silverware cabinet.
The national 7s team dubbed the ‘Green Machine’, transformed into robot mode yesterday and defeated the hosts and defending champions, Mexico 33-28 in a pulsating final after trailing 21-7 at the half.
Thanks to speedy winger, Patrick King’s heroics, Guyana’s saran-wrap defence and clutch play in the second half, the national team clinched their seventh title to move one step closer to a 2016 Olympic berth.
After the first whistle at the Campo Marte, Mexico pounced on Guyana and recorded three quick tries which were all converted. King then recorded a try which Theo Henry converted just before the half time whistle to send the stunned visitors to the locker room.
In the second half however, Guyana clamped down on Mexico while dominating possession. Avery Corbin opened Guyana’s account in the second half by breaching Mexico’s try-line. The score was then 21-14 after Ronald Mayers buried the conversion. However the defending champs soon stretched their lead to 28-14 after a try and conversion.
They would not score again. The fleet-footed King, who won his first national cap at the tournament then went to work. Eluding defenders with his foot speed that would make Usain Bolt proud, the national athlete reeled off a hat trick of tries, two of which were converted by national Captain, Ryan Gonsalves to seal the come-from-behind win which sparked wild celebrations by the local outfit.
The win paves the way for them to compete at the Hong Kong 7s in three months free of cost which will then serve as the perfect warm up for the NACRA Championships three months later, a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It also ensured the qualification of the seven-time champs for the Pan Am Rugby Championships slated for Canada next July.
Clinching the NACRA 7s championship comes on the heels of Guyana coming from behind to defeat USA South to win the 15s version in June. They won the title after 43 years. The men in green (dual champions) are scheduled to return today at 14:00hrs hopefully to a heroes’ welcome.
