Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/655581
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 MARCH 2016 Sport 58 RUGBY Overseas won the day, but Falcons still lead BY BRYAN CORLETT THE standard of the Ladies' Rug- by competition was high as the players used their skills to unlock the other team's defences. Players from all three teams Kavallieri, Overseas and Falcons were pass- ing well, backing up the ball carri- er and using the width of the field to breach the defensive lines. The first two games had Over- seas playing in another zone. Over the season they have gradu- ally developed their game and the skill level of the individual players has allowed the team to play with confidence and that they did yes- terday, as first they defeated the champion Falcons team by 12 points to 5. They then had a hard fought game against Kavallieri which they also won, by a score of 15 points to 10. Their team work won the day. Teams: Overseas:Mandy Dalli (2) Noemi Perez Corral (4) Charlotte Evans (5) Christina Zammit La Rosa (7) Clara Castillo (10) Sairita Cas- tillo (10) Wendy Pace (12) Sixtine Chamouton (21) Tessabelle Sul- tana (22) Tamsin Pace Decesare (24) Kavallieri: Amanda Cassar (2) Myra Bonello (4) Sarah Debono (5) Maria Spiteri (9) Jacqueline Rich- ard (10) Nerissa Van Zenneveld (11) Justine Zammit (17) Lawra Grima (20). In the final game Falcons were not having it their own way against Kavallieri, they were trying to play an expansive game which is their hallmark, but Kavallieri would not give an inch and their determina- tion to win, had them tracking back to haul down the fleet footed Falcons as they broke clear. Kimberlie Riolo (6) and Beverie Sultana (12) were using their speed and strength to break through but first Maria Spiteri (9) pushed the runner into touch and then again she crash tackled Silvia Gambino (13) after a break down the middle by Beverie Sultana (12). Justine Zammit (17) had a strong run down the middle, after a Myra Bonello (4) break gaining about 30 metres but she didn't see the supporting runner on her shoul- der and the movement fizzled out with Kavallieri running the ball back at them. Beverie Sultana (12) powered her way over to score under the posts. Myra Bonello (4) for Kavallieri scored as she straightened run- ning from a scrum, she juggled the pass but held it to score. Falcons were fighting to the last minute, but as they surged for the line in a forward attack, Kavallieri pushed them into touch and that was where Referee Martin Van Kan whistled for full time, with a final score of Kavallieri 12 Falcons 5. Teams: Falcons: Barbara Caruana (5) Kimberley Riolo (6) Caroline Gafa (8) Donevellon Sladden (11) Bev- erie Sultana (12) Silvia Gambino (13) Kim Gregory (14) Lucy Dar- manin (17) A good standard of rugby on the day, a pleasure to watch. PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN STILON Stompers crash to earth BY MIKE TURNER Swieqi Overseas 27 Sliema Stompers 17 BOTH sides wanted to win this match and it started with a bang and both packs carried out some good drives and mauls. Overseas had the wind at their backs, and the tackling from both was ex- cellent, which tended to stif le the attacks. Hepburn, Stompers and Stivala, Overseas, tested their opponents with high kicks. Rod Borg of Over- seas made three superb fields and used them to counter attack. An attack by Cassar and Stivala was defended by Stompers N. Borg who touched down. The passion of the game might have changed to it being scrappy because the players were trying too hard. Stompers attacked but were eas- ily held, then attacked again with another high kick, and Caruana gave away a silly penalty by chal- lenging while the catcher was in the air. Stivala was having a good game managing and directing the attacks but his defence was weak. Stompers Vuekebradovic was giv- en a yellow card to the sin bin for dangerous play and Overseas im- mediately opened their score with a penalty by Stivala. Overseas started to exert real territorial pressure and Duch- ange scored a try which was un- converted, Stompers regained the possession from kick off, gained a penalty but Borg missed an easy kick. Now Stompers began to make mistakes and Overseas took advantage, hacking on and nearly scoring. Pace-Moore and Gatt led the Stompers defence and cleared. Back stormed Overseas with lovely handling by Duchange and Ledoux, the ball was recycled and Harvey came in at a perfect angle to score, converted by Duchange. A big kick by Stivala was superbly cleared by Caruana, but Over- seas were attacking despite some poor passing. The constant pres- sure dragged the Stompers out of position and Corcorran cut in to score, converted by Duchange. Half time saw the score Overseas 22, Stompers 0, but not before N. Borg was yellow carded for back- chat. Stompers brought on Gum after half time and he brought an im- mediate bite to their attack, now with the wind. Overseas attacked but careless handling wasted an opportunity and Stompers drove back, a poor clearance by Over- seas, superbly caught by Gum who released Caruana to absolutely destroy the Overseas defence with his speed and brilliant balance to score, converted by Gum. Immediately Stompers began to up their game but Overseas worked upfield and this time Gum made a messy pass to Hep- burn whose panic clearance was charged down for Overseas to score a try. Stompers tried to hit back but Pigeon drove hard from a line out to hold them back. Caruana made another of his dev- astating speedy runs from deep, but the cover finally stifled him. Stivala missed several tackles for Overseas, which made Stomp- ers attacks look more effective that they really should have been. Gum made a really good break from the back of a scrum to score a try which he converted and then Hepburn scored a penalty to bring the score to 17 – 27. The game ended with Overseas in Stompers territory as they had been for 60% of the game, and this result keeps the destiny of the Cisk Lager League in doubt, al- though Stompers must still be the favourites. Referee Mr Ramage kept good control.