Rain had created a very difficult playing surface which also made handling tricky and therefore suited a spoiling game, in which neither side was able to establish any dominance. Despite the conditions, standard of play and entertainment was high and in fact Alligators were a little unlucky not to snatch a win in the dying minutes when Man of the Match Jamie Acheson missed a penalty.

Alligators veteran Adrian Hillman seems to have found a new life by changing to flanker from centre, where his defence was always a question mark. Overseas started as if they would control but Alligators soon pushed them back and after two successive charge downs, fly half Jamie Acheson followed up to score a try which he failed to convert.

Overseas pressed again but had difficulty in organizing their attacks as promising overlaps were ignored and centre Robert Farrugia and Jamie Acheson led a determined defence. Suddenly Alligators broke away and left wing Christopher Cachia ran a good 60 metres only to lose the muddy ball as he touched down. Overseas rookie Ross Thompson had earned a yellow card for an attempted trip but captain Robin Parnis-England blew a great chance by taking the penalty illegally.

Finally Overseas managed to launch their attack properly and Christopher Cachia scored a good try, converted by full back Paul Sparling for a 7-5 half time lead.

Andrew O’Reilly was prominent for Overseas on the right flank, and at one point crossed the line but he also dropped the slippery ball. Alligators were challenging hard and had an advantage territorially when Overseas centre Edward Axisa made a determined break, passed to the sprightly scrum half Dean Mifsud-Bonnici, who chipped the full back only to fumble the pick up. Mighty kicks by Jamie Acheson ensured they exerted pressure, and a fine off-loading drive by the Alligators centres set up a potential match winning penalty kick for Jamie Acheson which was fractions wide.

Alligators Cisk Export: D. Cutajar, M. Sullivan, R. Sammut, M. Muscat, A. Bezzina, A. Pace, A. Hillman, T. Womack, R. Parnis-England (c), J. Acheson, J. Busuttil, R. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, S. Demarco, K. Grixti

Substitutes - G. Grixti

Coach - Barry Von Moll

Globalair Overseas RUFC: S. Schembri-Warren, D. Goodwin, N. West, T. Devaney, S. Jones, R. Stevenson, A. O’Reilly, P. Camilleri, D. Mifsud Bonnici, J. Barlogio, C. Cachia, J. Howland (c), E. Axisa, R. Thompson, P. Sparling

Substitutes : I. Agius, K. Briffa, J.A. Manrique

Coach: Philip Felice

Referee: Mr. Donald Hewer

Scorers: Tries ?Acheson x1; Cachia x1; Conversions ?Sparling x1

Yellow Cards: Thompson

Cisk Lager Man of the Match: Jamie Acheson (Alligators Cisk Export)

Kavallieri YCE 53

Budweiser Qormi S 0

The two sides managed a good match in bad conditions with Qormi Sharks showing continuing improvement despite the score line. The surprising experiment of playing the inspirational captain Andrew Galea at fly half was quite successful and full back Matthew Falzon showed his potential in positioning, covering and tackling. Qormi Sharks pack is working hard as a unit and should be encouraged by this performance.

Nevertheless the result was never in doubt as Kavallieri played with experienced confidence and skill. It is pleasing to see how well the two diminutive wings, Emanuel Lautier and Andrea Camilleri, run with evasive balance and are eager to get involved. Pierre Micallef showed deft timing and positioning in the centre, but the best try was early on when fly half Michael Bonavia burst through, passed to supporting brother Robert, who flipped the ball to scrum half Sean Doublesin to score ?classic timed support work.

Qormi Sharks enjoyed quite a long period of frenetic attack, but when they come close to the line seem to lose all shape and control in their urgency to score, and inevitably a calm but incisive Kavallieri breakaway led to another try. Kavallieri tries were scored by Sean Doublesin (3), captain Daniel Grima (2), left flanker Pierre Mangion, Michael Bonavia, Andrea Camilleri, and center Pierre Azzopardi. Conversions by Sean Doublesin (3) and Michael Bonavia in the absence of the injured Roderick Attard.

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel RFC: I. Borda, B. Miller, A. Bartolo, N. Grech, G. Attard, P. Mangion, D. Grima (c), R. Bonavia, S. Doublesin, M. Bonavia, A. Camilleri, P. Azzopardi, P. Micallef, B. Miller, E. Lautier

Substitutes ?N. Borg, A. Grech Sant, J. Cutajar, K. Psaila Montford

Coach ?Richard Beerman

Budweiser Qormi Sharks RFC: K. Wismayer, J. Cassar, J. Bianco, P. Debono, L. Borg, D. Azzopardi, A. Attard, J. Dela, C. Sammut, A. Galea (c), M. Seychell, S. Aquilina, A. Zammit, T. Gambina, M. Falzon

Substitutes ?J. Borg

Coach ?Samuel Ramage

Referee: Mr. Bryan Corlett

Half Time: 26 - 0

Scorers: Tries ?M. Bonavia x1; Doublesin x3; Grima x2; P. Azzopardi x1; Mangion x1; Camilleri x1; Conversion ?Doublesin x3; M. Bonavia x1

Cisk Lager Man of the Match: Sean Doublesin (Kavallieri York Cisk Excel)

Kavallieri lead the standings with 24 points from five matches. Stompers are next on 15 points from four matches and Globalair, also with 15 points, but from five matches. Alligators are fourth on six while Budweiser Qormi Sharks prop up the table with no points.