A greatly improved Overseas gave Kavallieri a real fright as they started off by playing to their potential for the first time this season, heaving the Kavallieri scrum backwards in the tight and combining forwards and backs in incisive attacks.
Their passing was much quicker and accurate and the backs, especially Duffy, threatened the Kavallieri line until the almost inevitable breakthrough and score. Soon after Duffy intercepted a bad pass and raced away half the field to score under the posts. Unfortunately Stuart missed both conversions and an earlier penalty.
The momentum was lost when Allen was yellow carded for persistent infringement and Kavallieri came back into the match when Grima scored after a typical Kavallieri line out maul and drive. The score of 10-5 to Overseas was a fair reflection at half time.
However in the second half the renowned Kavallieri spirit and team discipline began to tell.
Their task was made easier when Overseas lost Ross and Schembri-Warren through injury, and the subs were just not as good, so the Kavallieri forwards began to win more and more good ball, and their backs started to combine well. Again their line-out was a major factor.
Attard kicked a good penalty and shortly after Grima scored a try after persistent pressure, Attard converted to take the lead. Vella then drove over after another Kavallieri mauling drive.
Straight from the kick off Cutajar caught the ball for Kavallieri and made a spectacular sprint down the touch line all the way from his own 22 to catch the Overseas out of place and score a superb individual try. Attard converted this one.
The match was rounded off by another excellent handling movement by Kavallieri, forwards and backs alike, as play went from side to side. Whenever a player was tackled, another was at hand to take the ball and the move was finished off by Micallef, although a trifle lucky in that some of the passes looked forward. It was converted by Attard, who leaves this week to college in Ireland, where he will be coached by a renowned rugby coach.
A good match in which Overseas were unlucky with injury and contributed to the enjoyment.
Alligators Cisk Lager 22
Hibs Sharks Strongbow 5
Another closely fought match despite the scoreline, but these two sides are improving on each outing.
After sensible kicking with the strong wind gained valuable territory, the heavy Alligators pack exerted a lot of pressure on the Sharks line until good ball was spun out to the lurking Sullivan who made one of his elusive runs to score the first try.
Then fly half Garuansa made a powerful break, passed to the supporting Parnis-England who in turn passed to the American Womack who ran strongly away from the cover to score a try which was converted by Parnis-England.
This was answered by the determined Sharks with a lovely classic try when the ball was won in a ruck and spun out along the line with good passing to wing Attard to score in the corner.
On the whole the Sharks were covering and tackling really well and Alligators found it hard to use their possession.
Strangely in the second half, Sharks just did not realise they had a strong wind behind them and made the constant error of playing directly to Alligators heavy slow pack. If they had kicked with the wind and made the Alligators run more they could easily have turned the game.
However the tactics allowed the heavy Alligators to exert more and more pressure and Sullivan and Parnis-England added two tries, neither converted.
Women’s Rugby
The women’s rugby squad were training for the forthcoming 15-a-side match against a German club in February. First backs and forwards split for specialist training, then a short match was played with the coaches, Damien Neill and Carm Longo taking part to ensure accurate positional play. There are 28 players in the squad.