Stompers started with a bang and were straight into a series of hard running and driving attacks. However Overseas defence held out well and when a fine kick by fly half Sean Duffy cleared the line to launch their own attacking series, which ended with right wing Paul Sparling grabbing the lead for Overseas with a penalty.

The match swung back and forth, Overseas full back Carmelo Boccaccini left the field with an injury, and a good position for Stompers being wasted by a bad kick by Australian fly half Christopher Morten.

Suddenly big tight head prop Dragan Cerketa, who is learning to play to his weight, burst away and offloaded to the equally strong left lock John Ellul to crash through for a try to give Stompers the lead.

Christopher Morten then made up for his previous error to make a superb dummy, break and 75 metre run for a sweet try. Overseas hit back with a try from former Stompers tight head prop Neil West, which was followed by a Jason Cornthwaite try to put Stompers ahead at 15-8 at half time.

Stompers pushed on with a Luke Debattista try after finely timed passing which inspired Overseas into territorial advantage from which the ball was spun out to left wing Dario Azzopardi for a try to keep them in the game, but from here on Stompers began to turn the screw and dominate.

Number 8 Clayton Cassar, Overseas, and Christoffel Diamantino, Stompers were both yellow carded after a silly tussle. Further tries were scored for Stompers by center Mario Fountain, Christopher Morten and substitute Jan Zammit, one was converted by left wing Jovan Reljic, who was then also yellow carded.

Stompers veteran number 8 Christoffel Diamantino was Man of the Match for his constant hard work and guidance.

Globalair Overseas RUFC: S. Schembri-Warren, D. Goodwin, N. West, P. Camilleri, T. Devaney, D. Psaila (c), A. O’Reilly, C. Cassar, J. Barlogio, S. Duffy, D. Azzopardi, G. Van Reevan, C. Cachia, P. Sparling, C. Boccaccini

Substitutes – R. Stevenson, S. Jones, T. Paivarinta, B. Dalton, F. Dumestre

Coach – Philip Felice

Stompers TGI Fridays RFC: L. Mifsud, Z. Demajo, D. Cerketa, J. Ellul, K. Zammit, J. Tonna, J. Cornthwaite, C. Diamantino, M. Galea, C. Morten, J. Reljic, M. Fountain, A. Camilleri (c), L. Debattista, G. Boulais

Substitutes – D. Mascena, M. Camilleri, C. Zammit, M. Von Brockdorff, J. Bonnici, M. Mirabelli, T. Diacano, N. Gatt, C. Zerafa, T. Vernon, S. Attard, J. Zammit

Coach – Noah Hardie

Referee: Mr. Steven Busuttil

* * *

Alligators Cisk Export 27

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel 62

The improvement of Alligators continues and this match was no pushover until the last quarter.

Kavallieri burst into action and fly half Roderick Attard scored a good try almost immediately, but Alligators hit straight back with a fine try by Jamie Acheson who converted it to take the lead.

Back came centre Reuben Vella, a welcome return after injury, with a Kavallieri try, converted by Roderick Attard, to which he added a penalty.

Then new Alligators full back Patrick Cape scored a brilliant try with an evasive solo run from half way, only to hurt his arm as he scored and leave the field. Jamie Acheson converted this too and added two penalties to regain the lead for Alligators.

Captain Daniel Grima scored two tries, one converted by Roderick Attard to give Kavallieri a half time lead of 27-20.

Kavallieri opened the second half with a slice of luck when Andrea Camilleri was awarded a try after touching the corner flag, only for Alligators Jamie Acheson to intercept and run in some 60 metres under the posts.

Converted by captain Michael Farrugia. Alligators right wing Keith Grixti was yellow carded for a high tackle and this really sapped the stamina of his team.

Scrum half Beppe Sammut has developed a bad habit of taking quick penalties and running away from his own support which wasted much of Alligators potential.

Robert Bonavia at number 8 for Kavallieri began a series of devastating runs off the back of the scrums with a fine burst, supported by left flanker Joseph Cutajar who flipped to scrum half Sean Doublesin to score, converted by Roderick Attard.

Substitute David Borg came on for Kavallieri and his experience immediately shone as he won two balls off the head which launched Robert Bonavia to set up tries by Sean Doublesin and Daniel Grima, both converted by Roderick Attard. Robert Bonavia scored a try himself as Alligators tired and the young substitute Dario Schembri, up from the juniors scored his first try in his first match, converted by Roderick Attard.

Alligators Jamie Acheson was awarded Man of the Match.

Alligators Cisk Export RFC: R. Sammut, T. Micallef, D. Cutajar, A. Cutajar, S. Cordina, T. Womack, A. Hillman, A. Morales, B. Sammut, R. Parnis-England, C. Sammut, M. Farrugia (c), J. Acheson, K. Grixti, P. Caape

Substitutes – R. Elliott, R. Mizzi, M. Muscat, A. Bezzina, J. Busuttil, N. Zarb, A. Pace

Coach – Barry Von Moll

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel RFC: I. Borda, B. Miller, J. Pace, G. Attard, A. Grech Sant, J. Cutajar, D. Grima (c), R. Bonavia, S. Doublesin, R. Attard, I. Agius, M. Bonavia, R. Vella, E. Lautier, P. Micallef

Substitutes – N. Borg, A. Bartolo, D. Borg, D. Schembri, A. Camilleri, K. Psaila Montford, I. Borg, B. Miller

Coach – Richard Beerman

Referee: Mr. Samuel Ramage

Standings

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel still lead comfortably with 29 points, ahead of second placed Stompers who have 20 points. But the latter have a game in hand. Third are Globalair on 15 points, fourth are Alligators on six points and fifth Budweiser Qormi Sharks with no points.