Bermuda's triumphant national rugby team arrived back on the Island yesterday after securing their second Caribbean Championship in three years on Saturday.

After crushing both Jamaica and the Bahamas in earlier games, Bermuda came up against far more formidable opponents in a much-strengthened Trinidad outfit.

And it took two magnificent tries in the last 15 minutes to clinch a come-from-behind victory and yet another Caribbean crown.

Bermuda last won the title in 1996 but skipped the event last year in order to travel to Chile for a World Cup qualifier.

And Saturday's match against Trinidad might be the last between the two teams for some time after rugby's world governing body recently decreed that in future Trinidad will compete in a southern Caribbean championship and Bermuda in a northern championship. From these competitions a combined Caribbean team will be picked for the World Cup in 2003.

Bermuda looked to be strolling to a comfortable win on Saturday as they moved into an early 10-0 lead with Dennis Cherry going over for a try and Phil Heaney converting and later adding a penalty.

But the Trinidadians, showing significant improvement under a new full-time coach, hit back to draw level by the half.

Bermuda went ahead after the break with a Shane Gill try but again their opponents struck back and, with just 15 minutes remaining, took a 17-15 lead with a converted try.

It was then that Bermuda made two key substitutions, bringing on Shaun Field and Dave Bird for the tiring Patrick Cooper and Rod Stewart.

And the move paid immediate dividends as first Gill went over for his second try after a 50-yard forward maul and Bird added another after a similar forward surge.

"It was a terrific performance,'' said Bermuda Rugby Football Union president John Williams afterwards. "Trinidad were a very tough side, much, much stronger than when we last played them.

"It was probably one of the toughest matches Bermuda have played for some time. We really had to pull out all the stops.''