The Police Falcons captured the championship of the GDF’s 60th Anniversary Rugby 7s tournament on Sunday at the National Park, edging the host Guyana Defence Force 15-14 in a thrilling finale that came down to the final moments.
What appeared destined to be a dominant police victory transformed into a nail-biting contest, with the GDF mounting a desperate second-half comeback that fell agonisingly short. The Falcons, who entered the final unbeaten, held their nerve under intense pressure to claim the $600,000 first-place prize in a display of composure that defined the tournament’s most dramatic moments.
The Police Falcons announced their intent to dominate from the opening exchanges, striking first when Owen Adonis scored a try in the 14th minute, followed by winger Lionel Holder and teammate Oneal Charles. Police established a commanding 15-0 halftime lead, though they were unable to convert any of their tries.
The second half witnessed a stunning resurgence from the GDF, who refused to surrender despite trailing by 15 points. Agboola Silverthorn scored the soldiers’ first try and added the conversion to make it 15-7, followed by Yannick Williams’ try, which Silverthorn again converted to narrow the gap to 15-14. Despite their desperate efforts and the home crowd’s passionate support, time ran out on the GDF’s comeback, forcing them to settle for the runner-up finish and the second-place prize.
The tournament also served as a selection tool for Guyana’s participation in the upcoming Rugby Americas North 7s tournament, with National Head Coach Steven Lewis in attendance observing potential squad members.
