The Rugby season opened at Marsa with a bang as a host of matches were played on the two pitches now available to this swiftly expanding sport, before several hundred spectators.

Traditionally the main match on the first day of the season is between the two top teams of the previous season in which champions Kavallieri started as strong favourites. However, despite a big growth in playing membership and a comprehensive pre-season training program, they were disappointing.

Had it not been for the fitness of hardened forward veterans and their current internationals they could easily have lost this to the faster Stompers backline.

The Kavallieri backs were slow in thinking and action, with the only real penetration coming from Micallef and Doublesin.

By contrast Stompers enjoyed a selection of speedsters who were always dangerous, and in the first half showed that a number of their younger forwards were ready to move up into senior rugby to make a mark. However, in the end fitness was crucial and Kavallieri had the edge.

Scoring was opened when Morton ripped open the Kavallieri backs to put M. Attard in for an unconverted try for Stompers. After further pressure by Stompers the ever dangerous Debattista broke well on the blind side but his scoring pass inside was dropped in the touch down so wasted. M. Attard also missed a short range penalty to waste further points.

Kavallieri’s Schembri earned a yellow card for an illegal trip on Mirabelli, but Stompers lost the initiative with a series of errors and gave away ground until a stupid penalty allowed Kavallieri to kick touch close to the line and from there it was almost inevitable that their superb lineout maul drill would lead to a score. Sure enough, Borda burrowed over out of the maul, converted to grab the lead, against the run of play.

The second half began with a more focused Kavallieri exerting the traditional forward grind on their less fit opponents, and after Stomper errors gave away many meters of ground they played a brilliant switch lineout which wrecked the defence for Grima to score.

Rob Bonavia made a great 40 metre run, well supported by his fellows deep into Stompers half but they then broke out to win quick ball for Morton to slice through for another fine try to bring Stompers right back.

More Kavallieri forward pressure including a big run by D. Borg, setting up close range attacks, and Doublesin scored for Kavallieri , thanks to a perfect handoff which flattened a tackler.

As the Stompers tired against the grinding Kavallieri spent more time pounding their line, but suddenly the fast backs broke away and only a brilliant cover tackle by Mike Bonavia stopped a try.

Another burst by Rob Bonavia made a second try for Grima to stretch the lead but Stompers hit back with the best try of the match by Debattista, converted by Attard, but it was too little too late and Kavallieri took the Ray Elliott Cup.

Kavallieri Women 27

Sharks Saddles 0

Ben Bennett Cup

Sharks, last years champions were given a lesson in fitness and fast, support rugby by a rampant Kavallieri squad who are determined to regain their title. An even higher standard of rugby was displayed by both sides.

League qualifiers

Globalair-Valletta Lions 50-0

Overseas were far too experienced for the valiant new boys but Valletta were impressive in spirit and ability in their first fully competitive match. If they can keep this dedication and also the number of supporters they will soon become a valid competitive side.

Qormi Sharks-Birkirkara Alligators Cisk Lager 8-12

Alligators were relieved to win this after spending long periods under pressure from a highly competitive Sharks, who only started playing three seasons ago.