Jíbaros Rugby Club win 2015 Ecuador Grand Final

The 8th annual Grand Final of Ecuadorian rugby was played on Saturday with clubs from the country’s two largest cities – Guayaquil competing for the national title in the capital of Quito.

Played at the Hacienda La Querencia the two-time running champions Jibaros Quito Rugby Club took on Tiburones ADN Rugby Club from Guayaquil. Tiburones ADN Rugby Club had reached the final after winning a thriller 33-31 in a match in which both teams crossed for five tries and were looking to take a first national title to their city.

Jíbaros, though, became a three-time running champion win winning the Grand Final 41-19. Not only did the club win but it also went unbeaten through the season. The win sees Quito retaining the status quo of having been the home to all of Ecuador’s champions since the national league began.

It was all Jíbaros in the opening quarter as tries from hooker J Galvez, back-rower J Herrera and winger M Silva put the Quito side in firm control. 24 minutes in, however, Silva was yellow carded and Tiburones seized the opportunity to score two tries to close out the half trailing 19-12.

Jíbaros fly half J Cacpata extended the lead to 12 with a penalty but tries to right winger L Petrel and D Vera  meant the Guayaquil side had leveled the scores at 22-22 after 62 minutes. A determined Jíbaros fought back with two tries of their own including a second to Galvez.

A late effort saw Tiburones scoring the final points of the match but by then Jíbaros were comfortably ahead. The final score of 41-29 saw a proud Jíbaros team retaining the title and celebrating.

For many they are playing for national honors with Ecuador a Sudamérica B member and part of the continental championship in this category. The four team tournament will take place in Lima, Peru in November with the host nation being joined by Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.