Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/661117
54 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 APRIL 2016 Sport RUGBY Sweden withstands Malta's initial pressure, to run out the winners BRYAN CORLETT SWEDEN, a team that is playing two divisions above Malta, faced a lot of pressure from a young Malta Barbarians team that showed a lot of promise. They came out of the blocks all pumped up and threw everything into the battle with their big for- wards using crash ball and then going wide to their tall lean backs. But Malta stood their ground, put in some big tackles and forced the Swedes into mistakes. The Malta scrum heavily out- weighed, put in some monster shoves, won penalties and three of the Swede put ins into the scrum. Playing with the wind at their backs, Malta spent the first quarter of the game without much of the ball, the Swedish scrumhalf Mitch- ell (9) ran the blind from a ruck and scored 10 metres from the corner flag, the conversion twisted away in the wind, but it was Sweden 5 Malta Barbarians 0. A mix up in the Malta defence at the back gifted a try when Rissanen (12) swooped on a mistake to score. Sweden 10 Malta 0. Around the 15 minute mark Malta put a lot of pressure on the Swedes and finally put some phases together and worked their way up field, win- ning a penalty. Collins (2) tapped and ran, passed to Morris (10) who broke the defence and threw a long pass to Stivala (14) who scored out wide. Sweden 10 Malta 5. Malta kicked long and from a lin- eout drove the ball forward and won a penalty which Morris duly kicked from 45 metres out, to bring the score closer. Sweden 10 Malta 8. Cassar (4) put in a big tackle on Rissanen (12) which forced a knock on and a Malta attacking scrum. Malta won another penalty with Sweden not releasing the tackled player and from 40 metres Morris (10) put it down the middle to put Malta in front. Malta 11 Sweden 10, a good period of play for Malta. The Swedes are trying to play an expansive game, but dropped passes and knockons are slowing their mo- mentum. John Ellul (18) comes on for Basher (8) and carries hard into the Swedish defence, finally giving Malta some go forward. Both teams were bringing on sub- stitutes, giving experience to some new players for the Internationals ahead. Malta will play Switzerland away next week and then Israel at home the week after. Sweden will play the Ukraine away in Kiev and then Holland at home, so this game is a development game for both teams to test combinations, so at times the game does ebb and flow. Just before halftime a drop ball in the tackle was picked up by Burke (8) and he ran straight in under the posts to make the score with the conversion by Gowland (15) Sweden 17 Malta 11. In the second half Sweden used the wind to kick long for territory when- ever they won a penalty, an attack- ing lineout was stolen by Andrew Vella (20) who got up in front of their jumper to relieve pressure. Malta are struggling to get out of their half, as the Swedes keep the pressure on with long kicks and big forwards crashing the ball up and then spinning the ball wide to their backs. From a ruck near the Malta tryline Mitchell (9) dives over to score to stretch their lead to Sweden 24 Malta 11 with a great conversion from the sideline by Gowland (15) Richard Gum (15) put in a try sav- ing tackle, knocking Nordgren (13) into touch by the corner flag when he had broken the defence. The big number 8 Burke scores again after a period of pressure, and with the conversion it is now Sweden 31 Malta 11. Finally Malta got into the Swed- ish 22, after going through a period of phases with ball in hand build- ing pressure Julian Galea (9) put in a grubber kick behind the defence and as the winger waited for the ball to roll over the line so he can touch it down for a 22 drop out, Stivala chasing hard (14) dived and touched down for the try. Sweden 31 Malta 16. In the last few minutes the supe- rior fitness of the Swedes had them score two more tries, to Darbyshire (2) and Claren (14) with Gowland (15) kicking one conversion to make the final score Sweden 43 Malta 16. Man of the match Gowland (15) for Sweden, Busittil (12) for Malta, for his leadership and defensive work. A lot of positives for Malta bring- ing in young players to test their mettle, in the fire of International Rugby. Malta: Anthony Harvey (1) Harry Collins (2) Terrence Galdes (3) Clay- ton Cassar (4) Isaac Bezzina (5) Ben Borg (6) Calvin Briffa (7) Jack Basher (8) Julian Galea (9) James Morris (10) Matt Camilleri (11) Dominic Busut- til (12) Rory O'Brien (13) Vince Sti- vala (14) Richard Gum (15) Nathan Gatt (17) John Ellul (18) Tyson Free- man (19) Andrew Vella (20) Ryan Mclister (21) Jeremy Debattista (22) George Hepburn (23) Roderick Borg (24) Luke Mathews (25) PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN AQUILINA PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN AQUILINA Falcons won the day, but Overseas were snapping at their heels BRYAN CORLETT IT was Women's Rugby day down at Marsa with a head to head com- petition between Falcons, Over- seas and Kavallieri, on a wind- swept morning Overseas versus Kavallieri 22-12 The first game had Overseas playing against Kavallieri with the cameras rolling to record the game for Melita Stars channel. Celine Smith was the Referee for the day, assisted by Sam Ramage. The wind was holding the passes in the air and after constant pres- sure, a Jacqueline Richard (10) interception gave Kavallieri the first try under the posts, the con- version was successful, they lead 7 to 0. Overseas fought back using their backline and some strong running by Clara Castillo (10) Charlotte Evans (5) and Tamsin Pace De- cesare (24) to put Tessabelle Sul- tana (22)in for two tries, with one converted, the halftime score was 12 to 7 in favour of Overseas. Against the wind there was a feeling Overseas would struggle in the second half, but their game got more focussed and their little flyer on the wing Wendy Pace (12) ran in two tries from 40 metres out, with no conversions the score was now Overseas 22 to Kavalli- eri 7. But Kavallieri had the last say with the busy Amanda Cassar (2) receiving the ball from the ever present Maria Spiteri (9) to run it in from 45 metres and make the final score 22 to 12. Kavallieri versus Falcons 0-29 Falcons were on fire from the word go with their strong, expe- rienced runners Beverie Sultana (12) and Katka Vrbacka (16) get- ting over the gainline and creating havoc, allowing the speed of Caro- line Gafa (8) to have more freedom the run. Vrbacka (16) scored when she straightened her run, to run it in from 50 metres. Falcons 5 to 0. Caroline Gafa (8) stepped and weaved her way through to score using her speed. Falcons 10 to 0. Beverie Sultana (12) drifted and threw an inside ball to Vrbacka (16) then back to Sultana (12) who scored under the posts. With the conversion it was Falcons 17 Kav- allieri 0. Sultana (12) scores again from a backline move through the hands after a forward roll through the hands of Barbara Caruana (5) Donevellon Sladden (11) Kim Gregory (14) and Debo- rah Cutajar (18) all involved. Vr- backa converted the try and it was Falcons 24 to 0. Kavallieri were trying hard, but just couldn't finish off some promising moves. Caroline Gafa (8) had the last say as she went into overdrive and scored from a long way out, to make the final Falcons 29 Kavallieri 0. Falcons versus Overseas 17-12 Both teams were unbeaten as they faced each other, it was all go from the start as they tested each other with Tessabelle Sul- tana (22) using her strength to brush off a few tackles to score, with Charlotte Evans adding the conversion it was Overseas 7 Falcons yet to score. But the speed of Kimberley Riolo (6) finally came into the game as she ran around the de- fence to score wide out. Over- seas 7 Falcons 5. Just on half time Tessabelle Sultana (22) threw a dummy pass and ran 35 metres but was dumped in a thumping tackle by Caroline Gafa (8) then from the ruck Charlotte Evans (5) forced her way through a wall of play- ers to score, no conversion it was now. Overseas 12 Falcons 5. Noemi Perez Corral (4) Mandy Dalli (6) and Sixtien Chamouton (21) were all working hard to win the ball. But Falcons stepped up a gear and worked the ball to Caroline Gafa (8) who once again blitzed the defence with pure speed to score drawing the game at 12 all. Kimberley Riolo (6) broke Overseas' hearts with speed down the touchline, she left the defence in tatters to score the winning try. Falcons 17 Over- seas 12. Skill set and enthusiasm was a big part of Saturday's Women's Rugby.