The comment by the Israel team which just managed to scrape past Malta in the play off for 5th and 6th rank in Pool B, was that since last year, Malta had improved by 200 per cent.

The Malta squad, consisting of Gauci, (Capt), Farrugia, Vassallo, Cassar, Bondin, Abela, Sammut, Fava, Borg and Fenech Soler, performed wonderfully in picturesque Limoges, France, considering that they were picked from a total of only 50 players, whereas other countries made their choice from among thousands of players.

Only bad luck and inexperience prevented them from finishing higher than the very creditable 6th out of 10 countries in Pool B.

Against Poland they set about their task from the whistle and only lost 0-5 because the referee was badly placed: so disallowing a good try by Farrugia.

A few small adjustments up front by coach Longo led to stirring victories against Austria, 12-0, and Hungary, 19-12. This meant that it was essential to beat Andorra to reach the play offs for top four. Unfortunately, Andorra won convincingly 15-0 and the Maltese girls were left to play off in the lower half. Nevertheless they rose to the challenge and thrashed Bosnia-Herzegovnia by 24-0 leaving a match against Israel for 5th and 6th spot.

Malta had all the territorial game but could not breach a staunch Israeli defence, and finally Israel broke away to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. The Maltese girls probably suffered from having to wait seven hours between these last two matches. The Israeli girls said after the match that the “Malta front row was like a brick”.

In this magnificent team performance, Esther Farrugia and Adelaide Sammut deserved special mention, but every squad member was a heroine.

Esther Farrugia scored 30 points, four tries and five conversions, Colette Abela scored 10 points, two tries, Adelaide Sammut scored 10 points, two tries, and Charlene Vassallo scored 5, one try.

This superb progress made by the Maltese women’s squad is a huge credit to the athleticism and determination of the girls, the pioneering of coach Robert Bonavia, the dedication of coach Carmelo Longo, and the management of Audrey Vella, all under the inspired direction of Damian Neill, MRFU Director of Rugby. Above all the Malta Rugby Ladies stand high for Malta.