Trinidad 32 Bermuda 19

Bermuda's national rugby team were defeated by Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Test match at the University of West Indies Grounds in St Augustine at the weekend.

Despite the loss, Bermuda climbed three places to 58th in the latest IRB World Rankings on the back of a 47-5 victory over Barbados in Bridgetown last week.

It was Bermuda who grabbed a seven-nil lead against Trinidad with a try by blind side flanker Andrew Hook and a conversion by Eoghan O'Dwyer.

Two minutes later, ill discipline at the breakdown resulted in a penalty conversion by Trinidad centre Don Rojas Jnr which trimmed the Bermuda lead to 7-3. The hosts then took the lead 10-7 following a try out wide by winger Mark Hamilton who was making a return to international duty following a three year hiatus. Rojas converted.

Hamilton and Rojas again combined to increase the Calypso Warriors' margin to 17-7.

An unconverted try by open side winger Andre Cabera made it 22-7. At this point, the home supporters would have felt that a runaway win was on the cards.

Bermuda, however, in no way intimidated by the Trinidad support, had different ideas.

Their physical forward-oriented style of play was rewarded when a Jack Ellison try and O'Dwyer's second conversion just on the half-time whistle, cut the lead to 22-14.

After the resumption, Bermuda continued their uncompromising pattern of play and had their hosts on the rack when an unconverted David Potter try cut the Trinidad lead to three points (22-19).

Bermuda played with urgency and intensity at set scrums and the collision point but lost invaluable momentum as a result of infractions; one resulting penalty proving decisive when Rojas stepped up and banged over the conversion to give Trinidad breathing space at 25-19. Trinidad put the issue beyond doubt as Cabera's second try and another Rojas conversion made it 32-19.

Trinidad manager and TTRFU chairman of selectors Curtis Nero expressed pride in the resilience shown by the players and commended Bermuda for a gutsy display.

"I found the guys stuck to their task. Bermuda was very physical and confrontational across the park.

"It tested our mental toughness, composure, skill set, structure and decision making under pressure. Good game. It will serve us well."

Trinidad: 15 Kelson Figaro 14 Andre Cabera 13 Dexter Snaggs(O'Connor) 12 Don Rojas Jnr 11 Mark Hamilton 10 Brendan O'Farrell 9 Bernard Yet Ming 8 Dale Trotman 7 Graeme Alkins 6 Wayne Kelly(Kurt Quashie) 5 Jason Clark(Lara) 4 Peter Bacchus(captain) 3 Brian Rajkumar(Roberts)2 Felician Guerra 1 Kirk Quashie

Subs: 16 Miguel Lara 17 Kurt Quashie 18 Jonathan O'Connor 19 Samuel Roberts 20 Abdeel Giles 21 Kidane Silverthorn 22 Carlton Felix

Scorers: Cons: Rojas (3) Pens: Rojas (2) Tries: Hamilton (2) Cabera (2)

Bermuda: 15 David Porter 14 Neville Zuill 13 Darragh O'Donogue 12 Seamus MacLoughlin 11 Steven Husbands 10 Chris Naylor 9 Tom Edwards 8 Peter Dunkerley 7 Kris Fubert 6 Andrew Hook 5 Scott Brown 4 David Rouke 3 Brian Desmond 2 Ryan Sommerville 1 Paul Robinson

Subs: 16 Iain Simpson 17 Bill Mc Niven 18 Thomas Greenslade 20 Mark Pomeroy 21 Eoghan O'Dwyer 22 Jack Ellison

Scorers: Cons: O'Dwyer (2)Tries: Ellison, Porter, Hook