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The Bermuda men's national rugby team returned from their excellent tour to Barbados and Trinidad on Sunday, after playing both nations in full internationals last week. The net result of the games is that Bermuda have risen three places in the world rankings to 58th, their highest position since July 2005, leapfrogging over European sides Slovenia, Serbia and Latvia in the process.

The 23-man squad departed Bermuda in earnest on September 19 After intensive training sessions on Sunday and Monday, helping the players to acclimatize to the hotter, more humid conditions, the squad was ready to take on their hosts on Tuesday night. The three months of excellent training from coaches Lawrence Bird and Johann Oosthuizen had the team in fantastic form and condition.

From the kick-off, Bermuda looked assured in possession. Barbados were struggling to cope with the strong, physical play of the Bermuda side, and the away side deservedly went ahead thanks to the quick thinking of impressive debutant Andrew Hook. After a penalty was awarded, he took a quick tap and dived over in the corner to edge Bermuda ahead.

Bermuda was dominating the line-outs and scrums, giving them an excellent working platform. Further indiscretion by the home side allowed Eoghan O'Dwyer to successfully kick two penalties as Bermuda began to completely dominate.

Man of the Match Kris Furbert then burst through just before half time to score another try, putting Bermuda 16-0 up at the half and looking comfortable.

Barbados needed a strong start in the second half to generate some much needed momentum, but it never materialized. Ninety seconds in, qn excellent quick ruck ball was rewarded when Darragh O'Donoghue was released out wide to score, before Furbert barged over for his second, which was converted by O'Dwyer. Bermuda were cutting Barbados open at will and they scored three more scintillating tries through Steven Husbands, Tom Edwards and O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer's was a magnificent score worked from deep in their own half when Jack Ellison made a wonderful run through the bewildered Barbados backline, and quick hands across the line did the rest. O'Dwyer converted two of these as the rampant visitors rounded out their scoring.

Barbados did get a try right at the death despite a brilliant covering tackle from Neville Zuill, but it was to be Bermuda's night as they romped home 47-5.

Trinidad 32, Bermuda 19

The squad flew to Trinidad the following evening and trained Thursday morning and Friday evening, in the oppressive Trinidadian heat and humidity. Everyone was set for the Saturday afternoon kick-off against the reigning Caribbean champions and top ranked Caribbean nation Trinidad & Tobago, ranked 13 places higher than Bermuda.

Trinidad opened strongly and had the lion's share of possession, but they were unable to breach the solid defense. Bermuda's first real attack of the game resulted in Hook scoring his second try in two appearances, when he looped superbly outside Ryan Sommerville, who had run a sublime line to create the space out wide.

O'Dwyer nailed the difficult conversion to silence the vociferous and partisan home crowd. Trinidad responded quickly when Don Rojas Jr slotted a penalty, and then they forged ahead with a three try burst in 10 minutes. Lightning fast winger Mark Hamilton twice outsprinted the Bermuda defense before their other winger Andre Cabera went over in the corner. Rojas made two of the conversions, with the home side looking comfortable.

The Bermuda men kept their composure admirably in the face of some highly debatable decisions that went against them, and showed great steel when Jack Ellison went in under the posts after a brilliant break from O'Donoghue.

O'Dwyer converted to leave Bermuda trailing 22-14 at the break, but very much still in it.

Bermuda came out with all guns blazing in the second half, with strong running from Furbert, Ellison and Husbands and some huge hits from Scott Brown, influential captain Peter Dunkerley and Hook. More quick ball released O'Dwyer out wide to score and put Bermuda right back in it. Both teams were throwing everything into the tackles and rucks, but neither getting a clear edge. Another debatable penalty edged Trinidad clear, and then Cabera went over for his second try, converted by Rojas, to seal a 32-19 win over a gallant and distraught Bermuda side. It was a massive performance from the visitors who can be very proud of their achievements over the week.

Great credit must go to coaches Bird and Oosthuizen, physio Maureen Ryan and tour manager Alvin Harvey for all the work they put in to having the team so well prepared, and to all the players who gave huge commitment over the last three months in preparation for the trip.

Gary Brady is the public relations officer for the Bermuda Rugby Football union.[[In-content Ad]]

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