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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2016 51 Sport RUGBY Swieqi Overseas clinch victory over Sliema Stompers Sliema Stompers RFC ................ 27 Swieqi Overseas RUFC ............... 31 GEORGE ZAMMIT MONTEBELLO AFTER their last encounter, when Stomp- ers denied Overseas the Ray Elliot Cup, this weekend's encounter was the most anticipat- ed match of the Cisk Lager League this sea- son, with both teams vying for a place at the top of the table. This culminated in an epic match between the two largest teams on the island. The first half saw Stompers start strong, winning the ball from their own kick off and pushing the ball out wide gaining territory rapidly through well placed runs. The Over- seas defence reacted fast to the change in pos- session, catching the Stompers runner, but a foul in the ruck led to a penalty for Stompers. Choosing to go for Points, Richard Gum's kick gave Stompers the lead at 3 points to nil. Following the restart Stompers lost their pos- session through a knock on allowing Over- seas to use their forwards' strength in the scrum. This was followed by a heavy back and fort in possession as both sides fought for territory. With the ball eventually ending up in touch for an Overseas line out, which the team con- verted into a maul, from the maul Overseas won a penalty for an infringement on the ground. From the penalty the Overseas team finally managed to shift the ball out wide leading to the first try of the match by Ouas- sim Mhaouch, 11, for Overseas which was converted by Chris Briffa. Bringing the score to 3 to 7 for Overseas. From here the game shifted to a very heavy contest for possession, with referee Lionel Da Silva calling multiple penalties for infringe- ments in the rucks, mainly players not releas- ing the ball on the ground and not remaining on their feet when contesting for the ball. Eventually though, the ball found itself in the hands of Richard Gum who proceeded on a brilliant run through the Overseas defence, dodging multiple tackles to ground the ball in the corner of the Try Zone. Gum failed to convert his own try, giving Stompers a nar- row lead of 8 points to 7. Stompers appeared to have regained control of the match from this new lead, driving the ball forward with multiple breaks through the Overseas defence only for them to lose the ball within metres of the try line due to yet another infringement in the ruck. They soon recovered, winning back possession from Overseas to take advantage of an overlap on the wing, handing winger Josef Azzopardi a try which was converted by Gum, bringing the score to 15 - 7 for Stompers. The rest of the first half consisted of a series of excellent breaks by Stompers and central play by Overseas, with both sides conceding possession through handling errors and fur- ther infringements in the rucks. It was only in the final moments of the half that Over- seas finally managed to take advantage of an overlap on the winger, allowing their fly half Gareth Corcoran to score the try, which was converted by Chris Briffa, bringing the score at half time to 15-14 for Stompers. The second half started strong for both teams, it was still anyone's game. Stompers' defence was holding strong against Overseas' persistent attacks down the middle, with Chris Briffa attempting to gain Overseas the lead with a failed attempt at a drop goal end- ing the relentless attack. Winning back position from a maul on their try line Stompers rapidly pushed back into Overseas' side of the pitch. Yet once again a handling error put the ball back in the hands of Briffa who cleared the ball to the other side of the pitch. From here Overseas began to rebuild a strong attack, though after multiple phases and with a strong overlap, Briffa made a second attempt at a drop goal having not noticed the overlap instead seeing two of his men on the ground. Sadly the hard decision did not pay off for the Overseas team. From here the match re- turned to the same tone as the first half with possession changing only with penalty in- fringements, mostly in the rucks. It was from one of these penalties that Overseas found themselves in sight of the posts. Opting to go for points, Briffa redeemed himself kicking the ball through the posts and regaining Overseas' lead, with a score of 15- 17. Shortly after the restart referee Da Silva handed out the first yellow card of the match, sending Overseas' flanker Luke Galea to the Sin Bin for a trip against a Stompers player. From here, Stompers capitalised on the one man advantage to bring the ball across the line, this time in the hands of Jeremy Debatis- ta, whose runs had been central to Stompers' attacks, with a conversion by Gum, the score was now 20-17 for Stompers. From here the game returned to the rhythm of one excellent attack after another by both teams, with all failing on handling errors and yet more infringements in the rucks and mauls. Though eventually the ball returned to the hands of Debattista whose run from the half way line and through three tacklers provided an excellent opportunity for Dragan Cerketa to get the ball across the try line for another Stompers Try, with another conver- sion by Gum. Stompers seemed to have solidified their lead with a score of 27-17. It was a while be- fore Overseas managed to regain control of the game. Losing out on multiple opportuni- ties to convert attacks into points, even miss- ing a kick at the posts awarded to them from a penalty. Eventually they completed an attack, with flanker George Corner taking advantage of a gap in the Stompers line to score a try for Overseas. Without a conversion the score was 27-24 for Stompers. Knowing the end of the game was near, Stompers worked to maintain their possession, keeping the ball close, and they al- most managed it. Yet more infringements in the ruck lost them the possession, and in the last play of the match Overseas found them- selves at the try line. Stompers' defence held well, blocking tackle after tackle, until a High Tackle saw Matthew Spiteri yellow carded, giving Overseas the advantage which they fi- nally capitalised on with a game ending try by George Corner, converted by Briffa, clinching victory for the Swieqi Overseas. In a game of many strengths for both sides, two players stood out, making their presence known at every stage of the match, the man of the match for the Stompers team went to Jer- emy Debattista with George Corner claiming the honour for Overseas. After this weekend Overseas take the top spot on the table for the MRFU Cisk Lager League. PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN AQUILINA PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN STILON