Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/658018
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 MARCH 2016 47 Sport SPORTTODAY RUGBY Sliema Stompers steamroll Kavallieri, playoffs ahead BRYAN CORLETT COMING off a loss to Overseas last week Stompers were looking to get the wheels back on their engine and showed their intent from the first minute going on the attack, forcing Kavallieri back on their try line with Stompers' Captain Mathew Camilleri (12) bursting over from close range after an off load. Stompers 7 to 0 with Gum (10) converting. Julian Caruana (15) had a blis- tering run from full back weav- ing his way to the line beating the defence with speed and swerve to score a fine individual try. Gum (10) converted Stompers 14 Kavallieri. Both teams had players miss- ing either due to Easter holidays or injury, but there was no lack of intensity on the day. Isaac Bezzina (6) having a great game on attack and defence scored crashing over from an of- f load Gum again converted tak- ing the score to Stompers 21 to 0. On 30 minutes Vukobratovic (13) after initially dropping a few balls, finally found his feet to score his first of four tries. Scor- ing again in the 35 minute, with Gum on target it blew the score out to 35 to 0. For a period Kavallieri threw everything into the attack with Nicholai Grech (8) Galdes (3) Zammit (1) and Cortes (7) all carrying strongly, finally Thom- as Aquilina (20) touched down to give them some hope. Stompers 35 Kavallieri 7 with Zahra (10) converting the try. Referee Sam Ramage was trying to let the game f low, but dropped passes and knock ons slowed the tempo. Matt Camilleri (12) scored again just before half time to make the half time score Stomp- ers 40 Ka-vallieri 7. Stompers were playing the game at pace running it whenever possible, giving their classy backs plenty of opportunity to score Vukobratovic (13) scored first up in the second half and the score multiplied as tries were scored in the 52nd, 59th, 61st, 65th and 74th minutes by Vukobra- tovic (13) Jeremy Debatista (20) a strong run, Josef Luke Azzopardi (blistering pace in off his wing) Gum (10) stepping and going over under the posts and Gum again stepping to score and he kicked two conversions to take the score out to Stompers 69 Kavallieri 7. Stompers were delighted with the win which now takes them into a final playoff with Overseas for the Cisk League Competition. PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN AQUILINA