Alligators Cisk Export 5

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel 44

Although the score might suggest a clear win, the reality is that a young and upcoming Alligators Cisk Export side showed heart and guts to hold an established Kavallieri York Cisk Excel side to a close match.

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel only managed to open the score thanks to a penalty in the 15th minute of the first half through fly half Roderick Attard’s penalty which was taken with responsibility and the knowledge that they had to get on the score sheet.

This probably gave Kavallieri York Cisk Excel the right mental attitude to play their game and use their superior knowledge of the game. In fact we saw some very good inter-passing and ball retention after this score to settle the team and move forward to scoring more points and securing the match. Tries followed by centre Sean Doublesin, right flanker and captain Daniel Grima and number 8 Robert Bonavia to close the score at half time at 20 – 0 after Roderick Attard converted Robert Bonavia’s try.

The second half opened with Alligators Cisk Export fighting to gain territorial advantage, however substitute Chris Vassallo made a strong run to score in the 5th minute of the second half, converted by Roderick Attard.

With the team settling down and recycling some good ball, Pierre Micallef came into the game from full-back to score a very good try and extend Kavallieri York Cisk Excel’s lead to 34 – 0 after again Roderick Attard found the conversion.

Chris Vassallo scored another try thanks to his strong running, followed soon by another Pierre Micallef try that brought the score to 44-0, however Alligators Cisk Export seemed to find some hidden strength and after a relatively long phase of attack managed an excellent try through American left flanker Tim Womack on the 69th minute, closing the match at 44-5 to Kavallieri York Cisk Excel

Alligators Cisk Export RFC: M. Sullivan, T. Micallef, P. Caruana, S. Cordina, S. Strijbosch, T. Womack, T. Muscat, A. Morales, B. Sammut, R. Parnis-England (c), M. Abdilla, C. Zammit, C. Bugeja, M. Tarmuni, M. Bianchi.

Substitutes: I. Sullivan, A. Bezzina, K. Grixti, A. Pace, M. Muscat, G. Grixti.

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel RFC: I. Borda, B. Miller, J. Pace, J. Cutajar, A. Grech Sant, P. Mangion, D. Grima (c), R. Bonavia, P. Azzopardi, R. Attard, A. Camilleri, M. Bonavia, S. Doublesin, K. Psaila Montford, P. Micallef.

Substitutes: J. Formosa, C. Vassallo, N. Borg, E. Lautier, G. Attard, J. Gatt, N. Grech.

Referee: Mr. Donald Hewer

Cisk Lager Man of the Match: Pierre Micallef (Kavallieri York Cisk Excel)

Budweiser Qormi Sharks 3

Globalair Overseas RUFC 54

Another match where the score does not reflect the closeness of the match. It took Globalair Overseas a good 15 minutes to break through a convinced Budweiser Qormi Sharks defence to score a try through loose prop head Simon Schembri-Warrren after having scored a penalty in the 10th minute from the boot of left wing Paul Sparling.

Dedication and a stubborn defence kept shining through for the Budweiser Qormi Sharks and Globalair Overseas only managed another score through a penalty from Sparling in the 22nd minute.

This was followed by Budweiser Qormi Shark’s best period in the match where they attacked with determination and were consistently within a few metres off the line but never managed to finish off the good work they put together.

In fact a silly mistake gifted Globalair Overseas another try from left flanker Andrew O’Reilly, converted once again by Sparling on the stroke of half-time, ending the half at 18 – 0.

The second half saw Budweiser Qormi Sharks again shining in defence, however Greg Van Reeven broke through in the 46th minute to score after a strong run through the middle, gifted by some soft tackling in the centres.

Fly half Julian Crawford put Budweiser Qormi Sharks on the scoreboard with a penalty on the 50th minute before a prolonged attacking phase by Globalair Overseas.

Loose prop head Andrew Galea, who was coming back after missing a few months through injury, was one of Shark’s best players and although he was shown a yellow card by referee Steven Busuttil in the 61st minute for repeated offences, he had an outstanding match and showed his strength and his increasing knowledge of the game.

Although a man down, Budweiser Qormi Sharks never gave up their defensive spirit and Globalair Overseas scored a try through scrum half David Judd who converted his own try.

This was followed by a try by centre Joss Howland who bullied his way to the middle of the posts to bring the score to 35-3 before number 8 Piers Allen scored his own try converted by flyhalf Justin Barlogio. The latter enjoyed the thrill of his own try shortly after, which Barlogio converted himself. Piers Allen scored his second personal try to close the match at 54-3.

Budweiser Qormi Sharks RFC: A. Galea, K. Wismayer, J. Bianco, D. Azzopardi, J. Borg, J. McPherson, A. Attard, J. Dela, N. Vella, J. Crawford, D. Stafrace, S. Aquilina, J. MIcallef Moreno (c), F. Barbara, M. Falzon.

Substitutes – S. Cassar, J. Camilleri, B. Saliba, M. Seychell, P. Debono, A. Aquilina, T. Gambina.

Globalair Overseas RUFC: S. Schembri-Warren, D. Goodwin, N. West, P. Camilleri, T. Devaney, A. O’Reilly, D. Psaila (c), P. Allen, D. Judd, J. Barlogio, P. Sparling, G. Van Reevan, J. Howland, C. Cachia, M. Chetcuti.

Substitutes: T. Paivarinta, S. Jones, C. Boccaccini, D. Azzopardi, K. Tonna, G. Paulin, E. Axisa.

Referee: Mr. Steven Busuttil

Cisk Lager Man of the Match: David Goodwin (Globalair Overseas)