‘It is the worst we have played’ – rugby coach

Last Saturday’s defeat of the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ senior men’s rugby team by the British Virgin Islands has been viewed as the worst performance by the locals by head coach Mark Winder.

St Vincent and the Grenadines was seeking a win to advance to the next phase of the NACRA 15 competition, but were beaten 22-15.{{more}}

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Winder lamented: “It is the worst match we played…. On the day, we needed to turn up with our A game, but instead we turned up with our B game.”

Facing the visitors on home soil at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, St Vincent and the Grenadines put some hope in those who were present, launching into a 15-10 lead.

“We were up 15-10 with not too long to go…. When you are playing a game of 15’s and you have two of your key players having an off day, then it disrupts the whole flow of the team,” Winder said.

Anizo Lewis and Kimran Barnum each registered tries, while Odanza Dennie, who punched in a penalty and a conversion, made up the Vincentians’ score.

St Vincent and the Grenadines went into last Saturday’s match, hoping to win, after they had previously drawn 24-all with Curacao and had a 16-8 trumping over St Lucia.

But for Winder, it will be a reset of the minds as he and his charges shift attention to the sevens format of the sport.

“We have the Olympic qualifiers 13th and 14th June in North Carolina…. It is a totally different concept, but I think the boys are more suited to this because of their speed…. It is more their style…. It is a brand new campaign and we are looking forward to it,” Winder concluded.(RT)