Rugby - Latvia Bounce back in second half

Malta Independent Sunday, 7 November 2010, 00:00 Last update: about 14 years ago

Malta 26

Latvia 33

(HT 19-6)

Latvia staged a remarkeable comeback yesterday against Malta to win 33-26. It was a disappointing result for the Maltese national team who led 19-6 at halftime and looked set to cancel last week’s defeat against Lithuania.

In front of a bumper crowd at the Corradino ground, the team led by Damian Neil went all out in attack and missed two conversions in the opening stages. But Malta broke the deadlock on 14 minutes when Matthew Camilleri made the try and O’Brien made no mistake from the conversion to put Malta 7-0 up.

Four minutes later the Maltese increased their lead with another try, this time by Malcolm Attard, and with O’Brien’s second conversion the score was a sound 14-0 lead for Malta.

The Latvians first signs of reaction came minutes later through a conversion, but on 24 minutes James O’Brien had a fantastic try, but missed the conversion to make the score 19-3. On the half hour Berzins converted a conversion to make the score at half time 19-6 for the local lads.

The second half was however a completely different story and Latvia made a try after only five minutes, but luckily Barezins missed the conversion for a 19-11 score.

The Latvians were now in full command, with Berzins converting a penalty and on 58 minutes Pepa’s try and berzins missed conversion made the score 19-19.

The Maltese did not throw in the towel yet and on the hour James O’Brien’s run earned us a superb try and the same player made the conversion from an acute angle to put Malta once again in the lead 26-19.

But this was the Maltese players last strike, as the Latvians dominated the remaining minutes.Kristaps Berzins made a try and conversion to make it 26-26, and seven minutes from time Latvia dealt the locals the deadly blow with a Valters Rankis try and the usual Kristaps Berzins conversion to make it 26-33 for the visitors.

The Maltese had nothing to offer in the remaining minutes, and the final whistle by French referee Laurent Valin found the Maltese lads on the losing end for the second consecutive time in seven days.