Joshua Clarke (L) beats an opposing player.

Joshua Clarke and Michael Wilson of Cayman Islands laid down tries with Clarke also making a conversion during the semifinal game in the just ended Abbotsford International Sevens, Vancouver, Canada.

The Rugby West Indies Select Sevens Team played into the Semi Finals of the Abbotsford International Sevens, being narrowly defeated 12-14 by Canada Alumni. RWI’s loss was extra tough as the conversion that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime went through the uprights and was good but was ruled wide by the referee.

The Semifinals started with Canada scoring a well-manufactured try that went through numerous phases. They followed this try with a score through the middle when an interception effort by RWI backfired. Rugby West Indies were trailing 14-0 at the half but came back with an outstanding effort after half time. Canada did not have possession outside of their territory for the entire second half. This constant pressure was finally rewarded when Hollis Green (SVG) and Captain Claudius Butts (Guyana), each ran in tries with a conversion from Luther Burrell (Jamaica and Leeds, UK) to put West Indies within 2 points of tying the game at the last play.

Kenya defeated Canada 19-17 in the final to win the tournament.

In earlier pool matches, RWI defeated the Young Bucks, 14-12, a sevens select side from Greater Vancouver, with Devon Woodsede (Bahamas) and Hollis Green (SVG) scoring twice and Luther Burrell converting once. In the next game against Burnaby Lighthouse, RWI again spotted the opposition an early try. The BL team was made up of Pacific Islanders and included a former Australian International and two members of Red Rock, the premier sevens side in Fiji. RWI picked up the effort in the second half and ran out 24-15. Try scorers for RWI were Claudius Butts, Joshua Clarke (Cayman), Tom Healey (Bermuda) and Hollis Green, with 2 conversions by Tom Healey.

After clinching a berth in the semi-final, RWI narrowly lost 17-19 to a well-organized Old Puget Sound squad, After a back and forth affair, OPS, a top USA sevens and fifteens club side, scored a late try to edge out the West Indies. Kevin Mc Kenzie (Guyana and Bracknell, UK), Devon Woodsede and Michael Wilson (Cayman), laid down tries for RWI with a conversion by Joshua Clarke.

Coach Joe Whipple said, “It was a good week for us. We had a three-day camp with four new faces getting the opportunity to contribute. During this time, we were very well-treated by the organizers and I am sure the fellas will remember this trip. The tournament was very good. We were tested in every match. We used a full roster of players basically splitting the time amongst the 12 players”.

The West Indies Head Coach said, “The Canada loss was disappointing, especially the way it occurred. However, you have to take a good feeling away that we can compete with the likes of Canada. We continue to make positive steps forward. The players are learning and growing. As a coach, you can’t ask for more effort than that provided in the semifinals. The team they played was well organized and many of the players came off of a 10 week intense program for the RWC qualifiers.”

Players competing:

Michael Wilson (Cayman), Adrian Griffiths (Jamaica), Andre Cabera (T&T), Claudius Butts (Guyana), Hollis Green (St. Vincent & the Grenadines ), Joshua Clarke (Cayman), Devon Woodsede (Bahamas),Kevin Mc Kenzie (Guyana), Duran Beadle (Bahamas), Luther Burrell (Jamaica & Leeds), Tom Healy (Bermuda) and Keron Campbell (T&T).

Rugby West Indies thanks all their sponsors and supporters who helped make this tour possible and special thanks to Martin Varga who volunteered his own airfare to serve as Asst. Coach and Physio.