Kavallieri York CE 22

Stompers TGI Fridays 20

Stompers roared back to life after two disappointing weeks and very nearly took the Cup. From the start their spirit took play right into the Kavallieri faces, and the smaller forwards won many exchanges through sheer fiery dedication.

John Tonna and Jovan Reljic were prominent in the exchanges, and Max Galea at scrum half distributed and marshalled well. For their part Kavallieri were clumsy and slow thinking in contrast.

The initial burst from Stompers led to a Malcolm Attard penalty, but then Kavallieri, with a strong following wind, began to exert territorial pressure, but they were too obvious to break a dogged defence.

Inevitably, Malcolm Attard pounced on yet another floated, telegraphed Kavallieri pass to sprint 70 metres for an interception try which he converted to give Stompers a 10-0 half time lead.

With the wind in their favour Stompers started the second half with further pressure, forcing errors and winning another Malcolm Attard penalty to go 13 points up.

At last this woke up the dozy Kavallieri and they began to play with their old spirit, using the forwards and Roderick Attard’s strategic kicking to gain ground. Stompers discipline began to crack under pressure, and a succession of quick penalties set up Sean Doublesin for Kavallieri’s first try.

More indiscipline led Stompers Darren Mascena to be sin binned at a crucial time and the weakened forwards gave way to a series of driving mauls and good kicks until Ian Borda scored for Kavallieri.

Led by a fine tactical kick by Max Galea, Stompers answered by attacking hard but were held by resolute defending. Then came a defining moment as Kavallieri drove a rolling maul some 40 or 50 metres out of defence into attack.

More indiscipline from Stompers as player-coach Noah Hardie was sin binned and Kavallieri looked to be clear. They drove for the line and Ian Borda burrowed over for his second try, converted by Roderick Attard.

Kavallieri went straight back into the attack and camped in the Stompers 22 and at last released swift crisp ball to the ever dangerous Pierre Micallef to score another try.

It looked like a knock-out but injuries slowed the Kavallieri effort and the Stompers speedsters were always ready to pounce on sloppy play.

This happened when Pierre Azzopardi flipped a ridiculous back pass straight to Stompers captain Patrick Satariano for the second breakaway interception try, converted by Satariano himself, and Stompers were only two points behind.

However Kavallieri managed to keep the ball well in the Stompers territory and played the game out, but before they had Ian Borda sin binned.

Stompers loose head prop Leo Mifsud fractured his arm and now will most certainly miss the forthcoming internationals against Poland and Andorra.

Stompers Malcolm Attard was man of the match and the MRFU Cup was presented to Kavallieri by MRFU President Martin Galea.

Kavallieri York Cisk Excel RFC: I. Borda, I. Borg, A. Bartolo, J. Cutajar, D. Borg, P. Mangion, P. Azzopardi, R. Bonavia, S. Doublesin, R. Attard, K. Psaila Montford, M. Bonavia, D. Grima (c), M. Hutchinson, P. Micallef

Substitutes – Brian Miller, J. Zahra, S. Jones, G. Attard, N. Grech, M. Cortis, D. Schembri, Brenton Miller, A. Camilleri, D. Psaila

Coach – Richard Beerman

Stompers TGI Fridays RFC: L. Mifsud, M. Spiteri, J. Tonna, J. Ellul, D. Mascena, N. Hardie, C. Moore, J. Cornthwaite, M. Galea, P. Satariano, G. Boulais, C. Morten, M. Attard, L. Debattista, M. Fountain

Substitutes – K. Zammit, A. Bonallo, Z. Demajo, K. Azzopardi, J. Reljic, J. Zammit, A. Camilleri, A. Mingo, M. Von Brockdorff, J. Bonnici, T. Diacono, S. Attard

Coach – Noah Hardie

Referee: Mr. Steven Busuttil

Half Time: 00 - 10

Scorers: Tries – M. Attard; R. Attard; Doublesin; Micallef; Satariano; Conversions – M. Attard; R. Attard; P. Satariano; Penalties – M. Attard x2

Yellow Cards: Mascena; Hardie; Borda

Man of the Match: Malcolm Attard (Stompers TGI Fridays)

Friendly

* * *

Valletta Lions meet Drybrook RFC

In only their second ever rugby match, Valletta Lions played superbly against the Gloucestershire side from the Forest of Dean, which is a rugby stronghold.

They actually scored their first try in the dying minutes and tackled like true lions. In fact they were only 10-0 down in the first half but lost a little shape as they tired and Drybrook scored another 27 points. The final result was 5-37 for the visitors.

Nevertheless this was a very promising and honourable beginning for the new club on the block- “Il-Belt” will soon become a power in rugby too.