The final day of the 2024 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Tournament in Trinidad saw Bermuda face a gauntlet of challenges, battling not only fierce opponents but also torrential rain and even a collapsing goalpost. Despite the adversity, Bermuda's sevens squad displayed grit and determination, ultimately securing a hard-fought 5th place finish in the Men's Tier 1 competition.
The day began with a Quarter-Final clash against Mexico. The match was marred by a bizarre incident when Mexico's Diego Aguilar crashed into the goalpost while scoring a Try, causing the crossbar to collapse on his head and delaying the game while he received medical attention. When play resumed, Mexico extended their lead, ultimately securing a 14-0 victory.
Undeterred, Bermuda bounced back in the Men's Tier 1 Plate Semi-Final against Barbados. In a thrilling encounter, Bermuda overcame an early deficit to triumph 19-10. Hadleigh Tucker and Rory O'Kelly-Lynch were the heroes, Tucker scoring one Try and O’Kelly-Lynch added the other two.
This victory propelled Bermuda into the 5th Place Play-off match against the Cayman Islands. In a tense and tightly contested battle, Tucker opened the scoring for Bermuda, giving them a 5-0 lead that they held until halftime. The Cayman Islands mounted a late comeback, leveling the score in stoppage time to force sudden-death overtime. However, Bermuda's Jahniko Francis seized the moment, capitalizing on a Cayman Islands error to score the winning try just 15 seconds into overtime.
Bermuda's performance on the final day of the RAN Sevens tournament was a testament to their resilience and fighting spirit. Despite facing formidable opponents and challenging conditions, they battled their way to a respectable 5th place finish, leaving the tournament with their heads held high.
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