Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/228594
53 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2013 RUGBY Storm and Malta Rugby League join forces Overseas comeback from behind to defeat Stompers BRYAN CORLETT GATESHEAD Storm and the Malta Rugby League (MRL) have entered into a twinning partnership which will commence ahead of the 2014 season. The Malta Rugby League (MRL) and Gateshead Storm are committing to further develop the strong links that already exist between RFL North-East and rugby league in Malta and Gozo. Storm head coach Chris Parker and utility Paul Parkinson are both Malta internationals while ex-Storm head coach and former Gateshead Thunder prop Gareth Barron recently signed for Maltese championship club, Malta Origin RL. The partnership will offer both parties the opportunity to exchange players with Maltese based players able to come across to the UK to enhance their rugby league experience, while Gateshead players will be able to go across to Malta to help develop the game with domestic players and coaches. Gateshead head coach Chris Parker commented "It's great that my community club is able to link up with our (Malta) national side, hopefully we will be able to help with the work the MRL are doing in Malta to develop the game while giving players on both sides a chance to gain more experience in different environments" MRL National Development Manager Anthony Micallef welcomed the ratifying of a continuation of the link between Malta and the North East. Micallef said "There is a special connection with the game in Malta and the North East region of the UK similar to the one we have with the Western Sydney region in Australia" "It is welcome news that beyond the twinning, Gateshead Storm's playing kit will also have the MRL logo on it. This will generate discussion and further leverage for the MRL brand further to the connection we hold with the region already" The MRL logo will feature on the arm of the Gateshead Storm playing shirt for all fixtures in the 2014 RFL North East League. Previous connections between the MRL and RFL North East have included: * Malta internationals Luke Branighan, Roderick Attard and captains Ben Sammut and Chris Parker have all played with Gateshead Thunder * Malta internationals including Paul Parkinson have been selected from the RFL North East amateur league * Former Gateshead Thunder prop Gareth Barron became the first marquee player signing for the MRL Championship when he signed with Malta Origin RL in 2013 * Gateshead Storm U14's took part in 2013 MRL Pink Week * Malta's first professional player Roderick Attard debuted with Gateshead Thunder in 2010 * RFL North East and MRL officially twinned in 2009 * Gateshead Thunder U18's toured Malta in 2009 OVERSEAS kick off and within a minute win a penalty from a ruck but Stivala's kick spins away from the posts. Stompers go on the attack and move the ball wide and run into the Overseas half a turnover ball is dropped and Stompers kick through and the chasing Attard (12)gets a kind bounce into his arms he passes to Betts(11) who goes over just wide of the posts, Attard converts and the score is Stompers 7 with Overseas still to score. Overseas are trying to run the ball but poor decision making and dropped passes hamper their game. After a few surging runs Stomper's pack leader, Cerketta (3)goes off injured, the Overseas scrum is tight and pushing Stompers making their own ball difficult to run, but run they do, as that is their game and their forwards are winning the ruck ball, keeping the pressure on Overseas. Stompers win a penalty at the breakdown Attard kicks it. It is now Stompers 10 Overseas 0. Stompers seem more hungry for the win, Overseas seem a bit flat which is funny really, as their sponsors are Green Solar panels and it is a sunny day! Overseas finally bust out of their half and win a lineout on the Stompers 22, the ball is shipped through their backline and Stivala taking an inside pass scores in the corner, no conversion the Score is now 10 to 5 with Stompers still in front. Making more of the play Stompers take the ball back into the Overseas half and win a penalty when an Overseas tackler does not roll away and from right in front Attard makes it 13 to 5 Stompers. Mistakes cost both team points when they are in good positions Overseas because of wrong numbers in the lineout close to the Stompers tryline loses them ground and then at the other end a backline move by Stompers gets tangled up and they are penal- ised for players crossing, losing a promising opportunity. On 30 minutes into the first half Overseas win a penalty on the 22 for a Stompers player not rolling away after the tackle, Stivala kicks it. now its Stompers 13 Overseas 8. A yellow card is given to Keith Zammit (4) just three minutes from half time, Overseas try to run the penalty but after a few passes the move fizzles and its now half time. The second half has the wind at Overseas backs, but they are not using it enough. The game is scoreless for almost 20 minutes with mistakes from both teams with dropped passes and turnovers not allowing any flowing Rugby. Stivala(10) kicks long from a penalty after an Overseas player is tackled in the air, but the ball goes dead and the scrum comes back to the half way. Meintzes(10) is trying to get his backline going, but they seem bunched up and also their Captain, Malcolm Attard goes off injured, so they lose structure. Injuries have plagued Stompers this season with injuries to six of their National team players. A long kick puts Overseas on the attack but a dropped pass gives a scrum to the Stompers, but a big shove gives Overseas the ball against the head, Stivala runs it up and offloads to Julve(9) doubling around and he goes over near the posts, Stivala kicks the conversion its now Overseas in front 15 to 13. Stompers surge upfield win a penalty but the kick spirals away from the posts, from the drop out the Oversea's kick goes out on the full and so Overseas have to defend their line again, after yet another mistake. Showing character though Overseas keep fighting their way up field and from a penalty they tap and go and from a maul the Overseas number 8 Chris Rulli wrestles his way over and scores. The conversion misses, it's now Overseas 20 Stompers 13. A long kick from the Stompers kick off puts Overseas immediately back on the attack and from the lineout A Harvey(3) spins out of a few tackles and scores. Overseas 25 Stompers 13. The game finishes with the Overseas pressurising Stompers as they try to run from their own goal line looking for a final try. A game played in good spirits, Refereed well by Steve Busutil, although not a spectacle, both teams were trying hard to play Rugby, but they were hampered by too many mistakes that must have frustrated both teams, as it did not allow them to play flowing Rugby. Man of the Match: C Rulli for Overseas and Jaco Barnard for Stompers. Overseas: 15 G Mupimhidza, 14 C Borg, 13 Brendon Busutil, 12 Tom Austin, 11 Roderick Borg 10 V Stivala, 9 A Julve, 8 C Rulli, 7 Luke Galea, 6 Clint Aguis, 5 J Dela, 4 A Schembri, 3 A Harvey, 2 Sergio Schiavone, 1 D Grove. reserves. 16 G Grech, 17 T Micallef, 18 S Vassallo, 19 M Booth, 20 J Buttigieg, 21 C Seychell, 22 K Mifsud Bonnici. Stompers: 15, Andrew Camilleri,14, L Debattista, 13 Malcolm Attard 12 Ryan McLister,11 Chris Betts,10 Rob Meintzes9, Max Galea,7 Jaco Barnard 6 Calvin Briffa,5 Mathew Spiteri,4 Keith Zammit,3 Dragan Cerketa,2 Josef Busutil,1 Patrick Martin, Reserves:16 Cleaven Delia,17 Tim Parker,18 Nick Mayier,19 Sean Xuereb, 20 Ed Willis, 21 Mathew Alexander,22 Ed Attard, 23 Owen Jones. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt