Team Turks and Caicos hosted and participated in the high-spirited Rugby North American #FiremindsRAN7s tournament over the weekend, 9 teams facing off to secure a spot in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
Our home players shocked Team Jamaica in their first match by managing a strong defence and a stunning try by David Been (of Team TCI who gave them to a 5 – 0 lead into half time. However Team Jamaica pulled it together for a strong comeback locking down a 22- 5 win against team TCI in the end.
David Been scored a brilliant try early on in Team TCI’s subsequent match against Team British Virgin Islands. Stanley Haven produced another try at the corner and propelled Team TCI to a lead half-time. Ultimately it was BVI who took home the win despite an additional try from Wesley Cherry later on in the match. This meant that TCI would have to compete in the Plate competition.
The crowd was in a frenzy during their match against Team Curaçao. Mark Defraine scored the first try of the match following a scrum off at the corner and Paul Mackenzie and Stanley Haven brought their running shoes for two glorious tries. Haven covered a mind blowing 75 yards to carry it home for Team TCI. This match was the first win of the tournament for Team TCI a 17- 7 match point out come.
Team TCI went on to defeat Team Belize with an incredible 22- nil victory. However in the end TCI would end their tournament by successfully making it to the plate final but lost 22-12 to Curaçao.
In the end it was Team Jamaica who secured the overall victory and secured their place over Mexico in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
