Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1044434
30 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 OCTOBER 2018 SPORTS RUGBY PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG BRYAN CORLETT MALTA returned from their win in Israel to take on Bosnia- Herzegovina over at Hibernian's Stadium in Paola, winning this encounter by 41 points 7. With the wind blowing down the ground affecting play at times, kicks and passes went to ground for both teams. Malta, playing with the wind in the first half, took the game to the Bos- nians with some strong running from the forwards, as they bat- tled their way for territory. Malta's scrum was immense in the first half shoving Bosnia off their own ball and getting some front foot ball for the speedy Maltese backs. A penalty was kicked by James Kirk(15) from 40 metres, after a great shunt by the forward pack dissolved the Bosnian scrum. Bosnia were trying to get their game going with their big for- wards Oruc(8) and Topcic(6) leading the charge, but the Mal- tese defence was resolute and drove them back behind the gainline, with especially Captain Dominic Busutil putting in some cracking tackles. Malta's first try to Richard Gum(11) came after a period of pick and goes with Dragan Cer- ketta(5) and Mark Davey(8) car- rying strongly. Prior to that a yel- low card to Suljic(4) for tackling from an offside position, allowed Malta to mount the attack. Mark Davey having an intelligent game scored running out wide, after another burst of play by the for- wards took them into the Bos- nian 22. James Kirk(15) kicked the conversion and Malta was looking good at 15 nil, although a yellow card to Rhodri Apsee(1) slowed Malta's progress as the second ticked away, Davey went close again but was penalised for a double movement as he reached out to score. A break around the front of the lineout by Tom Holloway had the crowd on their feet, but the inside pass to a free running Davey was in- tercepted and that was where the half ended. Turning to play into the wind in the second half there was a feeling that 15 points may not be enough if Bosnia used their boot to get downfield and used their big forwards close to the tryline. But coach Damian Neill must have fired up their passion in the shed, as the Men in Red began to run from deep with Kirk and Robert Holloway(10) weaving some magic as they ran through the Bosnian defence. Just a few minutes into the half and Tom Watts(7) scored out wide after a Kirk break downfield was continued to near the tryline by Tom Holloway, from a quick ruck, the ball moved quickly on to Watts to score. At 20 to nil Malta were starting to find their rhythm, although a few individual breaks fizzled out due to some forced or poor passes that went to ground. Hol- loway(10) won a turnover just as Bosnia looked dangerous, Tom Watts had a big run down the middle but there was no one on his shoulder to take a final pass to go around the defence. Darren Deguara(4) was car- rying the ball continuously into the Bosnian forwards, well sup- ported by Daniel Apsee(6) and Anthony Harvey(3). But Bosnia was not making it easy for Malta and mounted an attack, finally a forward thrust took Gafurovic(2) over the line, with the conversion by Bisic(15) they started to play with some hope of getting back into the game. The other Apsee boy Daniel(6) found himself in the sin bin for a head high tackle, their Mother will have to speak to those boys! Even though Malta was down a man they scored again when Tom Holloway forced his way over after a darting run. The score had blown out to 27 to 7 with Kirk's conversion. Substitutes came on for both teams but Malta's momentum continued with a fine individual run by Kirk up the middle of the field, stepping the would be tack- lers to score under the posts, he converted his own try and the score was now 34 to 7. A yellow card to Kadric(17) not retiring 10 metres on a penalty for Malta and trying to tackle the ball car- rier. The Referee Anthony Lac from Monaco was excellent in his game management, showing a maturity way be- yond his 22 years. The Match Commissioner Mr Yves Brochard from France stat- ed that this Referee will become a top Referee in France within a few years. Coach Neill emptied the bench and brought on all the reserves and all of them accredited them- selves well, especially with Andre Galea's(22) maiden try in the corner, on his first start for Mal- ta, which closed out the game, with Kirk's conversion making the final score Malta 41, Bosnia- Herzegovina 7. Men of the Match: Malta: Rhodri Apsee (1) , Bosnia: Fadil Spahic(10) Malta Team: Rhodri Apsee, Daniel Holliday, Anthony Har- vey, darren Deguara, Dragan Cerketta, Daniel Apsee, Luke Watts, Mark Davey, Tom Hol- loway, Rob Holloway, Richard Gum, Dominic Busutil, Rory O'Brien, Brendan Dalton, James Kirk. Reserves: Matt Spiteri, Benjamin Borg, gary Hili, Keith Azzopardi, Matt Camilleri, Vin- cent Farrugia. Malta beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 41-7