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T&T was beaten 4-2 in a kickoff by host nation Cayman Islands after both sides ended the match, deadlocked at 8-8, in the final of the North America, Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Under-19 Championships 2011. At the Truman Bodden Stadium on Saturday evening, the young “Calypso Warriors” took an 8-0 advantage with a try scored by Joseph Anderson and a convergent scored by Jamal Stewart. However, both efforts were canceled out by Cayman Islands which responded with another try and penalty in the final play of regulation time. Cayman then held their defensive line, allowing T&T no chance for a further breakthrough, taking the match to a standstill at the end of full time. Cayman then proved to be the better kicking side, leaving T&T in the dust after the “Calypso Warriors” found the target on only two occasions to Cayman’s four.

The U-19 boys were 22-19 winners over Mexico on Wednesday which earned them a place in the final. Carlton St Clair, Melville Eastman scored tries, while Jamal Steward took points with a couple of converted efforts. On Monday, T&T defeated Jamaica 20-7. T&T lead 15-0 at half time with an assertive performance but slumped to a more sloppy display in the second half. Olton Charles impressed with three tries while Brandon Scotland also touched the white line with a try of his own.

T&T was more impressive in the Women’s final, as the team lifted the trophy following a resounding victory over Cayman Islands 50-0 on Friday. Dalia Jordon Brown, Tanesha Samuels, Latoya Edwards, Alesha Bruce, Talia Wislon and Nicolette Pantor scored tries for the 2009 Caribbean Champions T&T along with the tournament’s outstanding player, fly half Juliana Straker who also converted four efforts and was awarded the “Most Valuable Player”. Straker also scored three tries in T&T’s comfortable win over Jamaica in the semi final of the women’s competition on Tuesday.

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Stacy Ann King and Kirbyina Alexander helped Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket women hammer Wales yesterday by 194 runs to extend their win streak on their tour of England.

At the Newport International Sports Village at Spytty Park in Newport, King bashed 108 runs off just 55 balls, and was well supported by Kirbyina Alexander, who finished unbeaten on 92 off 78 balls after T&T chose to bat.

Amanda Samaroo (41) and Lee Ann Kirby (32) also contributed with the bat, as T&T finished on 339 for seven at the end of their 50 overs.

Gamma Mumby was the only Welsh bowler to finish with more than one wicket, with good figures of three for 41 from her ten overs.

Wales never got going in their turn at the crease, with Stephanie Davis’s 37 being their topscore, while Amy Rees also chipped in with 19.

The main reasons the Welsh failed to mount a challenge were the miserly figures of Gaitri Seetahal (two wickets for nine runs in 7.2 overs) and Anisa Mohammed (two for 13 in nine overs). Wales were dismissed for 145 in 46.2 overs.

Alexander and Samaroo also took a wicket each.

T&T had previous defeated Sussex Ladies by four wickets on the weekend and a combined Gloucestershire/Wiltshire team by 119 runs on Monday.

Summarised scores:

T&T 339/7 in 50 overs (Stacy Ann King 108, Kirbyina Alexander 92 n.o., Amanda Samaroo 41, lee Ann Kirby 32; Gamma Mumby 3/41, Naomi Williams Wadley 1/14, Fiona Cartwright 1/48, Stephanie Davis 1/62, Gwen Davis 1/35) vs Wales 145 all out in 46.2 overs (Stephane Davis 37, Amy rees 19; Gaitri Seetahal 2/9, Anisa Mohammed 2/13, Janelle Samuel 1/36, Nicole George 1/19, Kirbyina Alexander 1/23, Amanda Samaroo 1/24)

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Trinidad and Tobago’s rugby women produced a savage effort, hammering a Caribbean Select team 92-0 at the 2011 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 15-a-side Championships in the Cayman Islands, on Sunday.

T&T’s Jade Ramjag started the demolition of their opponents with the first try in the opening minute, which was converted by Juliana Straker. Straker then converted an Alesha Bruce try and another from Taliah Wilson, before scoring a try herself.

Trinidad and Tobago went into the break with a 51-0 lead thanks to further tries from Bruce, Jenilee Limada and Ayana Skeete.

Straker had three tries in the second period and Taliah Wilson two, while Jordon Brown and Nicolette Panter each had one to keep up the intensity of the first half.

T&T were scheduled to be in action last night in their second affair against Jamaica.

T&T women’s team:

Latoya Edwards (captain), Jenilee Limada (vice-captain), Juliana Straker, Tenisha Samuel, Dalia Jordan Brown, Kwanieze John, Jade Ramjag, Sojouner Hyles, Abigail Roberts, Ayana Skeete, Merlin Blackford, Tramaine Andrew, Ebony Young, Ria Lewis, Makeba Edwards, Alesha Bruce, Antonia White, Taliah Wilson, Crystal Thomas, Kerdesiah Cooper, Nicolette Pantor

Joy Rodney-Wilkes (physio), Kitty Andrews-Nero (coach).

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Caribbean football mogul Jack Warner has confirmed he will run again for president of CONCACAF, the continental governing body for North Central America and the Caribbean region.

He told the CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress recently he was delighted with the progress the body had made and would stand for re-election for the 2011 year.

Warner has been president of CONCACAF since 1990 and also heads up the Caribbean Football Union, the governing body for Caribbean football.

Present at the meeting were FIFA President Sepp Blatter and FIFA Executive Committee members Ángel María Villar and Franz Beckenbauer.

Warner, a powerful FIFA vice-president, highlighted CONCACAF’s economic stability and growth despite the global economic recession and said this had allowed the organisation to increase the size of its competitions and programmes.

Also a government minister in his native Trinidad, Warner assured Blatter of CONCACAF’s unswerving support in his own re-election bid, noting that he would have “the complete support of CONCACAF and its members as he seeks re-election to FIFA’s highest office”.

During the meeting, Warner praised the Haitian women’s team that competed in the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Qualifying tournament two months after the deadly earthquake in January.

He also made a commitment to help the United States host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

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David Beckham will coach footballers and coaches in Trinidad this weekend to help boost support for England’s World Cup bid.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder’s trip coincides with the final of the Under-17 women’s World Cup in Port of Spain, which will be attended by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Jack Warner.

As president of the CONCACAF confederation, Warner holds one of the 24 votes on the FIFA executive committee, which will decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments in December.

England, which is in the running for either event, has pledged to invest in developing football globally in conjunction with Beckham’s academy.

“It is heartening to know that a man of such international stature remains committed to the development of talent worldwide,” Warner said in a statement released yesterday by England’s bid team. “This is a remarkable opportunity for the 200 participants. The fact that, despite his busy schedule, David has taken the time to open this festival, to share his knowledge with the children, is testament to his character.”

Beckham pledged to make the trip when he met Warner in Cape Town last year. About 200 young players and coaches are set to attend the workshops.

“Trinidad and Tobago have produced some excellent players over the years, and the islands are full of young people who love football,” Beckham said. “I am really looking forward to seeing the young girls and boys from all backgrounds and their coaches at my academy.

“Encouraging young girls to play football has always been an important part of the thinking behind the academy and it will be great to take this opportunity to also see some of the world’s best young women play in the Under-17 final.”

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Hosts Trinidad and Tobago crashed out of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup on Sunday when they suffered a 1-0 loss to defending champions North Korea in their must-win Group A final round match.

Undermined by a third minute strike from Kim Su Gyong, the Trini lasses failed to find the enterprise to carve out a positive result at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

With their second successive loss, Trinidad finished third in the group on three points behind winners Nigeria on nine points, and Korea DPR, who ended in second spot with six points.

With another sold-out crowd on hand to see their hometown girls, Trinidad sealed their demise early in the encounter.

Korea DPR gained a free kick in the third minute and Pong Son Hwa sent her effort into the area for Su Gyong to sneak in on the near post with a crisp low right footer past goalkeeper Linfah Jones.

From there, the Asians remained disciplined in their formation, keeping their hosts at bay for the remainder of the match.

Kim Yun Mi had a chance in the 75th minute but fired the ball over the bar and nine minutes later, Jones was forced into action to keep out Kim Su Gyong’s close range shot.

Jasmine Sampson brought Trinidad close to an equaliser in the dying minutes but her powerful shot on goal was deflected off the crossbar by the Korean goalkeeper Choe Kyong Im.

In the quarter-finals, North Korea will now play Germany, while Nigeria tackle South Korea on Thursday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Germany topped Group B after a comfortable 3-0 win over South Korea in the first match at the Larry Gomes Stadium, while Mexico ended the tournament on a high, beating South Africa 4-0 in the first match at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

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Trinidad and Tobago track star, Kelly-Ann Baptiste scorched the track in 11.05 seconds to capture the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup women’s 100 metres title, in Split, Croatia, last Saturday.

The Continental Cup replaces the IAAF World Cup in Athletics, which was last staged in 2006.

Baptiste became the first T&T woman to compete at the World Cup/Continental Cup, and she ensured it was a memorable first for her country, the Florida-based sprinter claiming top spot in the century.

Baptiste, the national record holder at 10.84 seconds, led a one-two finish for the Americas team, beating training partner Shalonda Solomon, of the United States, into second spot. Solomon got to the line in 11.09, while third-placed Blessing Okagbare, representing Africa, clocked 11.14.

Okagbare held the early advantage, but Baptiste battled back, seizing the lead and grabbing gold.

“I didn’t feel any pressure before the start,” said Baptiste. “I knew I would run a good race.”

Baptiste returned to the track to anchor a multi-national Americas team to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay. Cayman Islands sprinter Cydonie Mothersill ran the leadoff leg, handing the baton to Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie. Solomon performed third leg duties, getting the stick safely to Baptiste, who completed the victory.

Americas returned a time of 43.07 seconds to finish well ahead of Europe (43.77), Africa (43.88) and Asia-Pacific (44.54).

Americas also captured the men’s sprint relay title, Antiguan Daniel Bailey, Americans Wallace Spearmon and Tyson Gay, and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles combining for a 38.25 seconds clocking.

Christophe Lemaitre won the men’s 100m title for Europe, the French sprinter getting home in 10.06 seconds. Bailey (10.10) seized silver, while Great Britain/Europe sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis (10.16) bagged bronze.

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Edwin Aguilar, Luis Tejada and Gabriel Gomez all scored to lead Panama past Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in an international friendly Tuesday.

Interim Panama coach Jorge Dely left many of his regular players on the bench, looking at new faces for next year’s Central American championship.

Aguilar scored in the 13th and Tejada added his in the 75th. Gomez wrapped up the scoring on an 87th-minute penalty.

Panama drew 2-2 on Friday in a friendly with Costa Rica, one of the regional powers. Neither Panama nor Trinidad played at the World Cup in South Africa.

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