In atrocious conditions of torrential rain and strong winds, Bermuda produced a superb performance to defeat a strong Trinidad and Tobago side and successfully retain the Caribbean Rugby Championship in Barbados yesterday.

A waterlogged pitch prevented open, attractive rugby, but the two teams still produced a spectacle worthy of the occasion.

Trinidad and Tobago played with the wind at their backs for the first half and set the early pace, sprinting into the lead.

In the 11th minute, from a line-out 18 yards out Trinidad's left-winger powerfully surged over in the corner and three minutes later Bermuda conceded a penalty, allowing full back Chris Carib to kick a superb goal.

The large crowd, decked in waterproofs and sporting a myriad of colourful umbrellas, roared their approval of the south Caribbean nation, sensing an upset.

But a determined Bermuda side slowly began to establish a solid platform up front. Centres Mike Gorrie and Scott Correia tackled well, while Alan Oliver began to marshall from his fly-half position.

Paul Reed led the pack aggressively into every scrum and Noel Capewell threw in expertly from the line-outs.

Intense pressure by powerful back-row forwards Peter Shillingford, Ross Stewart and stand in captain Patrick Cooper resulted in a 21st minute penalty, which Ross Webber struck beautifully from 35 yards out, cutting the deficit to five points.

Five minutes later Gareth Davis broke through blind from a scrimmage and fed Daniel Olsen, who raced into the corner for his fourth try of the tournament.

Webber kicked the conversion from the touch-line and all of a sudden what was an eight point deficit became a 10-8 advantage.

From there the forwards continually drove, with superb bursts by Dennis Cherry, Ashley Redmond and Capewell setting up quality ruck ball for Davis.

From 40 yards out Davis yet again broke blind, surging past the Trinidad cover to release Heath Robinson for his second try of the tournament.

At half-time Bermuda held a 15-8 lead and with the elements in their favour what was once a vociferous pro-Trinidad crowd grew increasingly silent.

Fine work by the forwards in the second half again presented great opportunities for the likes of Oliver and Davis to repeatedly push the Trinidad pack towards their own line.

Gradually the power of the Bermuda pack became too much to bear and during the closing minutes flanker Rod Stewart scored a try from a rolling maul and lock Cherry bulldozed over from short range, confirming Bermuda's supremacy. Webber kicked both conversions to seal the final score.

"In these conditions the forwards deserve praise for the way they took matters to Trinidad and Tobago,'' said coach Kieron Peacock. "The opponents were bigger, but we were much tighter and better drilled.

"The backs handled well and tackled superbly. All in all it was a superb victory against an excellent side. If we hadn't played well, we'd have lost.'' It was Bermuda's fifth Caribbean Cup title and they continue in search of a double triumph as they now head for Trinidad and the Caribbean Sevens tournament.