Stompers TGI Fridays won the season opener for the fourth year in a row, the Ray Elliott Cup, by 20 points to 19 over Kavallieri Blue Label.

It was played on the reconditioned Marsa rugby pitch, with a luxurious growth of grass cover, but in humid conditions, even though there was a slight breeze.

It was a game, that at times, appeared to be in slow motion. Stompers TGI Fridays opening burst in the first 20 minutes, was enough to hold off Kavallieri Blue Label, who were playing a number of players out of position, so they were a little slow to get going.

Kavallieri Blue Label tried to play Stompers TGI Fridays at their own game by trying to throw it wide, only to come unstuck with dropped passes and poor options in the backs.

Later in the second half Kavallieri Blue Label upped the intensity and kept it in the forwards, where their strengths lie and slowly ground out some points with some forward interplay.

But it was all a little too late, just when the game was turning into a real contest, time was up and Referee Steven Busuttil blew the final whistle.

The game was played in good spirit, although Referee Busuttil, had to gain control a few times, flashing the yellow card to Loose Head Props Jason Pace and Leo Mifsud, Centre Owen Caruana, Hooker Antoine Bonello and Max Galea sending them all to the sin bin.

Points for Stompers TGI Fridays, came from Left Wing Andrew Camilleri, Full Back Edward Willis and American Right Back Noah Hardie with a try each, plus a conversion and penalty taken by Center / Kicker Malcolm Attard. For Kavallieri Blue Label , there were tries for Center Owen Caruana, converted by Full Back / Kicker Roderick Attard and another two tries thanks to Left Flanker /Captain Daniel Grima, converted once again by Roderick Attard.

This was the first encounter between the two this season and it was evident that both sides will have to go over their team tactics all over again. The big crowd that attended for this final will be looking forward to the next three clashes this season between the two giants of local rugby.

The Ray Elliott Cup was presented to Stompers TGI Fridays captain Patrick Satariano by the President of the Malta Rugby Football Union, Juan Borg Manduca, together with Mrs Elliott, wife of the late Ray Elliott, to whom the cup is named after.

Stompers TGI Fridays RFC: L. Mifsud, A. Bonello, D. Mascena, K. Zammit, D. Gasan, C. Moore, S. Degiorgio, J. Cornthwaite, M. Mirabelli, P. Satariano (c), A. Camilleri, M. Fountain, M. Attard, N. Hardie, E. Willis.

Substitutes – M. Spiteri, K. Grima Bezzina, A. Glower, M. Von Brockdorff, J. Reljic, M. Galea, J. Bonnici.

Coach – Leon Wynne.

Kavallieri Blue Label RFC: J. Pace, I. Borg, I. Borda, J. Cutajar, D. Borg, D. Grima (c), P. Mangion, P. Azzopardi, S. Doublesin, C. Vassallo, K. Psaila Montford, O. Caruana, P. Micallef, R. Bonavia, R. Attard.

Substitutes – B. Miller, A. Bartolo, N. Borg, A. Grech Sant, J. Gatt, J. Formosa, E. Lautier.

Coach – Richard Beerman.

Referee: Steven Busuttil

* * *

Stompers TGI Fridays RFC 20

Kavallieri Blue Label RFC 19

Half Time: 15 - 7

Scorers: Tries - Camilleri 8; Willis 15; Caruana 26; Hardie 61; Grima 76 & 80.

Conversions – M. Attard 15; R. Attard 26 and 80.

Penalties – M. Attard 19.

Yellow Cards – Pace; Mifsud; Caruana; Bonello; Galea.