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Rugby gained a new test-match playing country this past weekend as Honduras played for the first time, hosting north-western neighbors Guatemala on Saturday. Wearing blue uniforms and playing at the Estadio Municipal of Las Vegas, Santa Barbara Honduras made a respectable start, losing 25-7.
Honduras Head Coach Matthew Harper told Americas Rugby News “an encouraging performance from the team most of whom first saw a rugby ball for the first time less than 2 years ago. The game was tied at 0-0 for the first 30 minutes with Guatemala penned in at their own half for 20 minutes but we made a few careless kicking and passing errors and the Guatemalans took complete advantage”.
For a team playing together for the very first time at international level there were few negatives and many positives Harper nonetheless feels that the team can do better. “we were dominant in the setpieces because of our size and we were economic at the breakdowns to force the overlap. Our tackling was outstanding yet I still dont know how we lost”.
The Honduran coach alco championed the spirit of rugby: “It is always a great experience for any developing team at a national level to play against a more experienced one, the international game time was invaluable and we appreciate the Guatemalans for coming so far and putting up such a tough performance”.
The fixture was the second of as many South American C Championship warm-up fixtures for Guatemala. Backing up from facing El Salvador last weekend Los Jaguares now enter the Sudamérica C tournament well placed to challenge the top seeded Costa Rica.
The future is bright for Honduras and Harper has sent out a friendly warning to those competing in the South American C Championship. “Consur nations lookout for whenever they decide to invite us”
