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Underdogs Bermuda look to pull off Carib surprise

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Photo by Glenn TuckerRugby Bermuda national team training ahead of Caribbean Championship final.

Bermuda rugby coach Lawrence Bird insists his team have no problem being tagged as underdogs against Guyana in the final of the Caribbean Championships.Bird and the majority of his 22-man squad travelled to Guyana yesterday for tomorrow’s title decider, believed to be Bermuda’s first appearance in a Championships final for more than a decade.And although Bird is confident they will be physically and technically superior to their opponents, he knows Guyana have the pace and athleticism to cause Bermuda problems.“We’re cautiously confident we can win,” said Bird. “They’re quick and athletic but we expect to be technically and physically stronger than them. Hopefully we can execute our game plan as we did against Mexico (in the semi-final). I think if we do that we will win the game.”Bird believes Bermuda’s squad is stronger than it has been in several years and is adamant they won’t be fazed by the partisan crowd expected to greet them at the Providence Stadium.“In the last Championships three years ago we didn’t even have a full squad,” he said. “This time we’ve had to cut players from the squad and that’s increased competition. We’re very happy that we’re taking 22 committed and tough players down there.“I don’t know the last time we won it. It could be as much as ten years. We’re the underdogs; we’re the travelling party and will have no supporters down there. Everybody will be against us (in Guyana) which always makes it entertaining. We quite like that kind of atmosphere.”Bermuda came top of the North Zone after defeating Mexico in the semi-finals. Guyana defeated Barbados in the other semi to finish top of the South Zone.The match starts at 7 pm (Bermuda time).Bermuda’s squad: Paul Dobinson (Renegades), Allan Steynor (Mariners), Dustin Archibald (Mariners), Thomas Greenslade (Teachers), Mike Williams (Renegades), Aldo Campbell (Teachers), David Rourke (Mariners), Bobby Hurdle (Teachers), Conor McGlynn (Renegades), Gareth Williams (Mariners), Kris Furbert (Mariners), Pete Dunlop (Teachers), Peter Dunkerley (Renegades), Tom Healy (Renegades), Chris Naylor (Teachers), Scott Cobon (Teachers), Tom Edwards (Teachers), Mark Dymond (Mariners), Neville Zuill (Police), Jack Ellison (Teachers), David Porter (Teachers), Alun Thomas (Mariners)

Photo by Glenn TuckerRugby Bermuda national team training ahead of Caribbean Championship final.
Photo by Glenn TuckerRugby Bermuda national team training ahead of Caribbean Championship final.