Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/739032
52 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2016 Sport PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN AQUILINA RUGBY Sliema Stompers win their first Cisk League game against an energetic Qrendi Falcons BRYAN CORLETT FOR MRFU THE score of 45 to 5 may seem like a romp but it was far from it, as the hot and humid conditions and a Qrendi Falcons team that never gave up the fight, made Stompers have to play at their best. It was so hot, even the ball was sweating! On a day when we needed a Mexican Wave we got a Heat Wave. Both teams were looking to play an open game, moving the ball wide at every opportunity holding onto the ball and running from deep. The scrums were very competitive, both teams were getting a few strikes against the head to give their backs unexpected ball at times, especially for Falcons in their first three scrums pushing Stompers off the ball. Gum (15) scored out wide from a McLister (10) long pass to open the scoring, converting the try himself. Stompers were using their big strong for- wards to hit it up, but the Falcons were swarming all over them, putting them under pressure as they tried to offload. On a few plays Falcons' defence looked a bit ragged and that was exploited by Stompers as they scored again with Gum (15) running in his second try in the corner and he converted it with a splendid kick. The Stompers rush defence was stifling the Falcons passing game, they needed to chip a few kicks in behind them to sow some defen- sive doubt. A bit of individual brilliance saw David De- lia (15) pluck a bouncing ball out of the hands of a Stompers player as he reached for it to score, then thumping the ball into touch. When the Stompers got close to the try line they were lethal, a Mathew Camilleri (6) hit up and offload to Malcolm Attard, then quickly on to Calvin Briffa (7) for him to score near the posts. Falcons on the other hand just could not convert any of their breaks into tries, as either a pass was dropped, a wrong option taken, or players were running away from their sup- port. With referee Sam Ramage blowing for half time, it was Stompers 21 to Falcons 0. Stompers were quick off the mark in the second half, scoring under the posts from a quick tap penalty after Falcons were penal- ised for coming into a ruck from the side. Gum converted. There was a feeling that at this point, the game would blow out to a big score, but Fal- cons kept in the game, putting in some big tackles with Lloyd Holliday (16) Vince Farru- gia (1) and Darren Aguis (4) leading the way. From the Stompers side Cerketa (4) Mat- thew Spiteri (1) and Maylor (4) were into eve- rything trying to get their team on the front foot. Daniel Holliday (2) after a knock to the head, came back looking like something out of the film "The Mummy", he eventually had to retire and his scrum suffered for it, with Stompers gaining dominance up front in the scrums. Briffa (7) scored again, after a Matt Camill- eri (6) break down the touchline, going over under the posts in a covering tackle by Ka- wara(20) who had just come on for Falcons. It was Kawara who sparked Falcons back into action, with his speed and sleight of hand. He kicked long, caught the fullback in possession, Ryan Borg (13) picked up the dis- lodged ball to score. Then a mistake in the Falcons' defence gift- ed the ball to Stompers and going right from the ruck under the posts Gum scored, with a three man overlap. Final score 45 to 5. Stompers: Coach: M Fountain.M Spiteri, N Gatt, G Hili, N Maylor, D Cerketta, M Camilleri, C Briffa, T Pace-Moore, M Galea, R McLister, JL Azzopardi, M Attard, J Debat- tista, T Bugeja, R Gum. Reserves: J Busutil, R Sullivan, M Spiteri, K Azzopardi,C Zerafa, J Cini, C Mercieca, M Pandya. Falcons: Coach: J Borg, V Farrugia, D Hol- liday, N Azzopardi, D Aguis, G Scicluna, T Freeman, A Vella, D Vella, J Galea, B Mi- callef, J Clark, A Galea, R Borg, S Gregory, D Delia. Reserves: LJ Busutil, M Attard, J Grech, J Caruana, S Kawara, E Degrabrielle, L Hol- liday, A Borg. Referee Ramage had a good game letting play flow, but always in control. Man of the Match: Richard Gum(15) for Slie- ma Stompers and Darren Aguis(4) for Qrendi Falcons.