The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

After two days of competition against the top teams throughout the region, the Bahamas finished in eighth place at the 2013 North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens Championships.

Hosted November 9-10 at the Truman Bodden National Stadium in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas fell 22-5 against Bermuda for their final finish in the standings. The Bahamas tied the match at five following a try from Connor Albury just before the half, but were outscored 17-0 in the second period.

In their opening match, the Bahamas faced the unenviable task of going up against the defending NACRA champion Canada. The Canadians easily scored a 34-0 victory.

It was another lopsided affair in match two when the Bahamas fell 33-0 to Barbados.

Day two ended on a high note for the Bahamas as they defeated Turks and Caicos 17-10 to earn a berth in the cup quarterfinal. It was there that they faced another regional powerhouse in the American side, USA Falcons. The Falcons won 29-5. The Bahamas trailed 19-0 at the half, but Albury was able to score early in the second half to prevent the shutout.

In the plate semifinal it was more tough sledding for the Bahamas with a 19-0 loss to Mexico.

The Canada Maple Leafs took home the men’s cup final after a 27-5 win over the USA Falcons.

It was a clean sweep for Team Canada as they also took the women’s cup final with a 51-0 win over Mexico.

Mexico took the men’s plate final with a 10-7 victory over the Cayman Islands, while Jamaica scored a 22-0 win over Bermuda in the women’s plate final.

The Bahamas Rugby Football Union’s national side was one of 12 men’s teams competing at the event.

They were in Pool A along with Barbados, Turks and Caicos and the Maple Leafs RC out of Canada. 

Pool B included the USA Falcons RC, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands and Curacao and Pool C included Mexico, Jamaica, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.

Eight women teams participated in the tournament, including the Maple Leafs, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Bermuda and Curacao.

The NACRA Sevens presented an opportunity to qualify for three events.

For the upper echelon teams like Canada and the USA, they used the event as a tune-up for future rounds of the HSBC World Series.

Third and fourth place finishers, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, qualified for round seven of the World Series.  They gained entry into a 12-team preliminary qualifier, with the winner  guaranteed promotion in the 2014-15 edition of the event.

The top four Caribbean teams on the men’s side and top three on the women’s side also qualified for the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation Games in Veracruz, Mexico.

Also, according to NACRA, the top men’s Commonwealth team at the event is likely to be invited to participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, along with Canada.