Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1099822
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 APRIL 2019 20 RUGBY SPORTS KIRBY ATTARD & LIONEL SILVA LAST game day of the CISK league saw Stompers breaking a sweat to finish the league un- beaten when they faced Kaval- lieri, who riddled with injuries, were forces to put in a relatively different front row than usual. Kavallieri kept their spirit throughout the game and while Stompers scored all their points in the first half, they were kept at bay by the men in black who added two more tries in the second half to end the season on an encouraging note. The clubs will face each other on the last Saturday of April with the final of the MeDirect Cup. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the second place in the league table was contested between Falcons and Overseas. Overseas needed a victory with a bonus point and not letting Falcons getting any bonus point. For Falcons the equation was simpler: a win or draw would see them retaining second place. A defeat with a combination of factors, would still see Falcons get that second place. This was quite a physical game with Overseas setting the pace early in the first half, scor- ing three tries by James Wid- dop, Dimitri Dubern and the returning Vincent Stivala in the first quarter of the match, giving Overseas a dream start, leading 15 – 0. Falcons were incessantly be- ing put on the back foot by a strong Overseas defense and by some poor decision mak- ing from their side. Overseas extended their lead with an- other try, on the 29th minute, by James Widdop, converted by himself, making the score 22 – 0. With their part of the job done to get second place, Fal- cons needed an urgent reaction to halt Overseas' momentum and bring some hope back. They finally managed to score a try by Ciaran Mullan just be- fore Sam Ramage whistled the end of the first half with the score 22 – 5 to Overseas. The second half saw the Fal- cons trying to put a collective effort in getting back into the game, with some good drives forward by Jean Zarb and Brendan Dalton, with the same Jean Zarb touching down the ball in the corner for a try. With the game now at 22 – 10 to Overseas, a regained spirited Falcons were putting all their determination to get within 7 points, which would see them getting the second place, de- spite losing the match. They scored again on the 60th minute, with a Liam Scicluna try, converted by Liam Davis. With the score at 22 – 17, the pressure was now on the side of Overseas, with all possible sce- narios being calculated. The final action of the game came from Gaston Perez in- tercepting a pass by Brendan Dalton, and scoring under to posts. With Widdop convert- ing the try, Overseas were 12 points clear and so Falcons had to regroup and get back in the battle. They ran the ball a last time, but it was too late as the referee ended the match with the final score being 29 – 17 in favour of Overseas. Stompers Re/Max claim Cisk League Trophy following unbeaten campaign PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARREN SAMMUT