Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/483475
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 MARCH 2015 Sport 37 RUGBY Ireland win the Six Nations A review the action in the RBS 6 Nations as Ireland do just enough to deny England on a thrilling day's play GEORGE North scored a hat-trick of tries in 11 minutes as Wales destroyed Italy with a remarkable second-half points blitz to keep alive their RBS 6 Nations title hopes, before Ireland ended them by beating Scotland 40-10. Wales went from 14-13 ahead at half-time to secure a record 61-20 Six Nations win in Rome - and North proved their attacking destroyer. The Northampton wing powered over for a treble, while his fellow wing Liam Williams also touched down, as did scrum-half Rhys Webb, centre Jamie Roberts, skipper Sam Warburton and replacement Scott Williams. Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked two penalties before going off in- jured, but fly-half Dan Biggar proved a capable deputy, slotting a penalty and six conversions as Wales scored 47 second-half points. However, Ireland's 30-point win was was more than enough to see them take over at the top of the standings ahead of England's clash with France. Joe Schmidt's men ended Wales' ti- tle bid and set England the challenge of beating France at Twickenham by 26 points to seize the silverware. Captain Paul O'Connell set Ireland on their way with his first Test try in nine years, before Sean O'Brien's brace and a further score from Jared Payne wrapped up a fourth victory in the campaign. England therefore needed to beat their opponents by 26 points to ensure that a remarkable final day ended with another twist, but their effort would come up short. Stuart Lancaster's side got off to a flying start and eventually ran out convincing 55-35 winners, but despite late pressure they were un- able to force the eighth try they ulti- mately needed. Jared Payne carries the ball forward Sliema Stompers edge Kavallieri in hard fought encounter IT may have been the first day of spring, but a strong wind blowing had the feel of a difficult winter not yet behind us. In the Mediter- ranean Bank Cup match the two top teams fought out a highly contested battle. The first 10 minutes was a lively tussle as both teams tried to play for position and get their players over the gain line. The new combination of Ellul (8) and Galea (9) for Stompers were trying to work together and link for- wards with backs. Camilleri (13) breaks up the middle toeing the ball to the 22 metre line, Kawara picks it up and runs it back 40 metres into the Stompers 22, he chips the ball through, but it goes into touch. From the lineout Kavallieri go wide with skip passes to Frankie Imbroll (11) who steps back inside, wrong footing the defence and scoring 10 metres in from the corner to make it Kaval- lieri 5 Stompers 0. The kick off to resume play by the Stompers doesn't go the 10 metres and Kavallieri get a scrum and look to attack again. Griffiths (10) puts a long kick downfield but from the lineout some indecision gives rise to a lost opportunity with a knock on, turning the ball over. From the scrum on the Stomper's 5 metre line Ryan Mclister (10) runs it up- field and passes to John Ellul (8) he sets up the ruck, then a quick pass gets the ball to Mat Camilleri (13) he drags two tacklers with him to score. The conversion misses. Stompers 5 Kavallieri 5. In the next play of the game Mclister takes the ball to the Kav- allieri defensive wall and breaks from the half way to just short of the tryline, from the ruck it is quick ball from Galea (9) to Mclister (10) he passes to Cerketta roaming wide and he scores 10 metres from the corner. No conversion. Stompers 10 Kavallieri 5 and we are 20 minutes into the first half. Galea (9) has learnt the art of the box kick and is putting some good kicks up in front of his forwards. Kavallieri are being penalised for infringements around the tackle area that's not allowing them to get any go forward. Ka- wara (14) tackles two Stompers players as they try to break out from their 22, he may be the smallest player on the field but he's got a ton of determination. Stompers are getting their running game going, not both- ering to kick the penalties and are looking to get the ball wide to their wingers Caruana (11) and Jeremy Debattista (14). Imbroll (11) scores again as Kav- allieri attack from a scrum after a Stompers knock on from a high ball. He steps and swerves and with pace beats the defence to score 10 metres from the corner f lag. No conversion, it's a challenge in the windy conditions. Kavallieri 10 Stompers 10. Two yellow cards are given by Referee Sam Ramage after an alter- cation near the Kavallieri tryline, it is Imbroll (11) and Tim Parker (2) who are in the sin bin for 10 minutes. That is the last action of the half with the score even at 10 all. The second half kicks off and almost immediately Kavallieri's Sam Blyton (13) is yellow carded for a dangerous tackle. Stomp- ers have increased the pace of the game and go right, then left from rucks, Galea (9) breaks down the blind side of the ruck and as he is caught off loads to McAlister who then scores under the posts. The conversion is good, Stompers are back in front. Stompers 17 Kaval- lieri 10. Kavallieri are using their forward power to get back into the game and into the Stompers half. From a lineout they go wide but run out of space and are forced into touch. Jean Pierre Zammit has a jinking run giving his outside backs some room and sowing some doubt in the Stompers' defensive pattern. From the lineout the Kavallieri use their trademark forward rum- ble and score as the maul goes out near the corner f lag. The conver- sion misses but they are back in the game. Stompers 17 Kavallieri 10. The momentum in the game has switched to Kavallieri as they get their big forwards into the game and over the gainline, giving their backs a bit more room to move. An- other infringement has two players into the sin bin Milan Susnjada (9) and Dragan Cerketta (3) maybe an historical battle from ages past. Stompers are not using the wind to get downtown from a scrum close to their line but in- stead Mclister (10) chips over the advancing Kavallieri backline, Camilleri runs on to the ball and heads off downfield on an angled run, he passes to Neville Borg (22) who angles back to the left step- ping through three tackles and of- f loads to Caruana (11) on the left wing and he scores. Borg misses the conversion, it is now Stompers 22 Kavallieri 15. From a steal in the scrum Grif- fiths (10) triesto get his big for- wards to run off him and get over the gainline, but the ball is dropped with Stompers kicking downfield a long pass to Kawara, with however Attard (15) swooping on it and in- tercepting the pass and he scores in the tackle of Kawara under the posts. Borg (22)converts. Stompers 29 Kavallieri 15. The game ends a minute early due to a concussion injury to one of the Kavallieri players, Joe Cuta- jar (5) who has played a very physi- cal game in the forwards. Referee Sam Ramage calls full time, with Matthew Camilleri (13) being nominated as Man of the Match.