Rogues Rugby Club were anything but charitable hosts having won their own competition – the Kings of Tag Rugby Tournament held Sunday afternoon on the La Clery Playing Field. The tournament, sanctioned by the St Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and organized by Rogues Rugby Club, consisted of the following eight teams. Three teams were put forward by Rogues (two male and one female); Rona; Rollers; Reela, Boys Training Centre and Whiptail Warriors.
The results of the first round of matches are as follows: Rogues 1 vs Reela Rugby, Rogues 1 winning 4-3; Whiptail Warriors vs Rogues 2, Rogues 2 victorious with a score of 6-4; Rona vs Rollers (and all female team), Rona came out on top 5-4; Rogues Females vs Boys Training Center, Rogues Females shutout the opposition 6-0; Rogues 1 vs Rona, Rogues 1 victorious with a score of 3-1; Rogues 2 vs Boys Training Center, Rogues were 7-2 winners; Rollers vs Reela, Reela came away with a 6-3 victory; Whiptail Warriors vs Rogues Females, Whiptail Warriors blanked the opposition 7-0.
The first game of the quarter finals did not disappoint with Reela vs Whiptail Warriors. The final score being 4-3 in favor of Whiptail Warriors. The second match of the quarter finals had Rogues Females against Rogues 1. A valiant effort from the Rogues Female team, but they were edged out in the final
minutes by Rogues 1 with the final score being 4-3.
The Third place match between the Whiptail Warriors vs Rogues 1 saw both teams squandering opportunities. After regulation time the score was deadlocked 7-7 leading to overtime. Rogues 1 were the eventual winners and awarded third place.
The final was a showdown between the heavily favored Rogues 2 team vs the savvy and technical team Rona. In a high scoring affair Rogues 2 came out on top 10-6.
Following the final there was a brief prize giving ceremony. Trophies were presented to Rogues 2 for placing first and Rona for their second place finish. Maico Popote was named Tournament MVP.
In fostering the continued growth of rugby in the island, President of the SLRFU Roger Butcher, thanked all teams from the various clubs who participated in the tournament. He showed his appreciation with a donation of five rugby balls and a stack of cones to each of the five registered clubs on the island – Rogues Rugby Club, Renegades Rugby Club, Whiptail Warriors, Reela Rugby and The Boys Training Centre.
One of rugby’s outstanding female players was also honored during the prize giving. Kameka President received a round of applause after Butcher announced she received a scholarship to attend Mount Mary’s University in Maryland. The SLRFU executive and players congratulated her and undoubtedly will miss one of their best players.
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on sporting associations but the SLRFU is still very much active. This was their second competition after sports recently received the go ahead from the authorities. Sporting events are allowed to take place with no more than 200 spectators in attendance while adhering to the various protocols.
Rugby Technical Director Wayne Pantor is determined to get the sport back on track. He told the STAR: “Due to the coronavirus we had a setback in our program by approximately six months. After meeting with the executive we decided to do some community programs so we could showcase rugby and at the same time have players work on fitness and playing the game.”
Players were definitely eager to get back on the field. Pantor put it another way: “I would say the players were starved during the corona period. As you can see they came out with a lot of energy and vigor.”
Pantor is counting on players reaching their plateau by November. “That’s our target date,” he said. “We are awaiting word from the World Rugby and RAN for a regional competition. So far they have a tentative date of November 24 for the Bahamas, but then again we see the situation with the Bahamas and COVID-19 and with the closing of their borders, that may actually push things to 2021. In light of 2021 we have Commonwealth Qualifiers, Olympic Qualifiers so again we are applying our micro cycle in preparation for those competitions.”
Local tournaments have been scheduled by the SLRFU under the direction of Pantor. The next tournament takes place on August 16, 2020.
