Defending champion Caribs made it two in a row against Stag Trinidad Northern Rugby for the Rugby season with a 15-7 win in first round action of the Toyota Championship Division League competition at President's grounds, St Ann's on Saturday. After taking the Robert Farfan Memorial Cup 20-16, the previous Saturday, Caribs took advantage of a number of blunders from their opponents to start their title campaign on a winning note. Northern's kicker Justin Mc Lean threw away two opportunities in the opening 15 minutes to put the title-holders on the back foot. However, his opposite Kendall Mootoo put away his opportunity in the 26th minute to give his side a 3-0 lead.
Mc Lean had another chance two minutes later, but the result was the same. The score remained the same just before the half time whistle, when Caribs scored its first try. Ronald Silverthorne, who was unfortunately injured after the play, received a pass from Brendan O'Farrell and the rest was history. He then had to retire hurt after a late tackle from Gordon Dalgleish. Mootoo then gave his side a 10-0 lead at the half, converting the penalty. Caribs came out in the second half with the same momentum and extended its lead when O'Farrell squeezed a grubber kick to the left corner for Brendan Daniel to finish a try to make it 15-0.
However, the penalty was not converted by Mootoo, who was having a good kicking match up to that point. Northern eventually got its first and only try from Richard Staglon, before Mc Lean finally came good finishing off the play with the penalty to make it 15-7. But that was the closest they got as time expired. In the other encounter, Harvard playing at home, defeated Rainbow Sports and Cultural Club 19-12, while Rainbow 2 hammered UWI Rugby 50-19 in a Second Division League clash.
