Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/244624
54 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2014 Kavallieri easily defeated a struggling Valletta side Valletta Lionhearts defy Kavallieri MIKE TURNER Kavallieri ........... 29 Valletta Lions ..... 5 KAVALLIERI began this match as firm favourites to run up a big score against Valletta who have struggled to raise a team this season, as the lack of facilities undermines their enthusiasm. The match started as expected, both sides agreeing to start at 13 a side. Territorial advantage was all Kavallieri's as Valletta struggled to make a cohesive challenge from a brand new combination. An early try for Kavallieri set the pace and they could have scored but lobbed passes and poor handling wasted many potential scoring opportunities, giving the Valletta defence time to get into place. As the game continued Valletta developed a better team understanding and harried the Kavallieri as they used so much possession. Two more Kavallieri tries, both converted by Cutajar, built up a 19 – 0 lead at half time. After the one sided first half, it was expected that Kavallieri would soon build up a massive score, but Valletta had different ideas and attitudes, binding much better as a team, ripping into the opposition with real determination from the kick-off. A series of charges and offloads finally released Delia who broke several tackles and scored Vallettas' try. Kavallieri quickly hit back with a try of their own after a rather harsh decision of a high tackle had put them in an attacking position. Valletta showed their commendable determination by charging down the conversion kick, a rare occasion in modern rugby. Both teams were now at 15 a side, as MRFU President Brian Dalton came on at scrum half for Valletta, and he introduced some real generalship and direction to the Valletta efforts. There were times that Kavallieri's all conquering season looked in danger, and they actually failed to score from their trademark driving maul from the line out due to the brave defence of the Lions. Fawari was always dangerous but Valletta would not allow him to get away; Debièrre was passionate, speedy but inaccurate and the Valletta tackling usually held them. For Valletta Delia, Dalton and Griffiths were prominent, and they were close to scor- ing more tries several times. They enjoyed a long period of territorial advantage, when just a little more sophistication would have worked. With some careful coaching, this Valletta side can become a proper force to contend with, especially the Czech Mati, who looked very promising in his first ever competitive rugby game. After the one sided first half Kavallieri only won the second half by 10 points to 5 –they ended as worthy winners, but were given a warning that the season will have to be won against tough competition. SNOOKER Selby trounces Murphy to reach Masters final THE Leicester player won 6-1 to set up a final against either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Stephen Maguire. It also enabled Selby to earn a measure of revenge for a 6-2 defeat against Murphy in the quarter-final of this competition two years ago. Selby made a strong start with an 86 break earning him the opening frame. It was 2-0 on the back of a break of 104 and that became 3-0 after Murphy had missed a red along the top cushion. A clearance of 62 made it 4-0 after Murphy had slipped up attempting a challenging pink, and when Selby edged a scrappy fifth frame the 30-year-old was on course for a satisfying whitewash. Although Murphy stopped the rot, taking the sixth frame 59-15, there was to be no comeback as Selby closed the door in the next frame, which he took 76-24. "I scored when I had chances in the first three frames. My safety was good. I thought I played really well to lead 4-0," said Selby. "It is a great feeling to be back in the Masters final. It would mean everything to win it again. "I'd like to hold onto this trophy having reached the final, but lost my UK title (to Neil Robertson) last month." Murphy had the consolation of snatching a mediocre sixth frame that prevented him from tumbling to a whitewash. Selby has won all 10 of his finalframe deciders at the sport's most celebrated invitational event, but has yet to whitewash an opponent. He will bid to equal Ronnie O'Sullivan's haul of four Masters gongs, but he may have to overcome the man from Chigwell to achieve the feat. The two top seeds in the event will surely meet if O'Sullivan plays near the levels that saw him destroy Ricky Walden 6-0 in 58 minutes in Friday's quarterfinals. "The atmosphere will be great if I play Ronnie. Playing him in Lon- don will be fantastic if he comes through," said Selby. "I don't think I can't beat Ronnie because I believe in my own ability. I've beaten him before in big finals, and I can beat him again. "Every time I play him people say 'do you try slow him down or play safe to frustrate him?' "But I don't physically go out there thinking I can't beat him break-building wise, so I am going to try to tie everything up. "It is just that is the way it seems to go. A lot of my matches seem to go that way if I'm struggling, but if I'm playing well I know I can be quite attacking and I can score as well. "Every day is different, but if I perform like I did today then I know I have got a chance if it is Ronnie or Stephen." Selby has a decent record against O'Sullivan enjoying wins over him in the 2012 Welsh Open semi-finals while he overcame the fans' favourite in the 2010 Masters final. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD RUGBY