Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - The National Rugby team put up a poor show at the just ended West Africa Rugby Championship in Bamako, Mali. Ghana's team which left by road to Mali amidst several challenges, defeated Benin in their first game with a 16-7 score but lost their next game against host Mali 28-3 and had to console themselves with a search for a third place glory.

The team's dream, however, failed to materialize as they were tras= hed by Burkina Faso 18-3, hence denied of the third place slot. Kenaz Mensah, Acting General Secretary of the Ghana Rugby Associatio= n (GRA) said their poor performance was due to lack of proper conditioning, inadequate camping and lack of funding.

He added that the team also struggled with poor living conditions i= n Mali as well as with lack of quality kits.

Menah said the team had to struggle with injuries after the first game as ten of the players were sidelined as a result of injuries, which weakened the team for the rest of the competition.

The acting General Secretary, however, commended the team for makin= g it to the semi finals despite the difficulties before and during the event. Other participating teams were from Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cha= d and Togo.