Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/826629
62 maltatoday SUNDAY, 21 MAY 2017 Sport PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZARA AMEEN RUGBY Czechs too powerful for Malta, in Prague BRYAN CORLETT I don't know what they feed the Czech players, but their size made our boys look like hobbits, as they battered and ham- mered their way around the field, using their powerful forward pack to take the score out to 48 to 14 by the full time whis- tle. We were in the game for a few phases here and there, but the pressure put upon Malta throughout the game, created bad ball for our speedy backs to utilise and that pres- sure also caused us at times to make the wrong decisions in the heat of the battle. By midway through the first half the Czechs were already up by 19 nil with the few times Malta held onto the ball, they could not make any headway. The Czechs had scored tries to Pantucek(13) running strongly through the Malta defence and Loutocky(8) from a scrum shove, pushing Malta back over their tryline, taking ad- vantage of the 10 minute yellow card given to Daniel Apsee for hands in the ruck close to the line. Pantucek scored his second try after a period of attacking phases had opened our defences out wide allowing him to run in untouched. Forst converted two of the three tries. Malta tried to play some Rugby, holding onto the ball for a few phases then Quaren- don(10) tried to drop the ball in behind the onrushing defence for his backs to run on- to, but the Czechs were alert to the danger. From a restart Luke Watts got a good bounce swerved his way through the de- fence and scored out wide for Morris to convert to make the score Czechs 19, Mal- ta 7. Malta's confidence was lifted and they tried to open up the Czech defence again, but some poor passing let them down. From a lineout close to the Malta tryline, Caldaroni(1) caught the ball from a Malta tap down and scored in the corner to end the first half on Czechs 24, Malta 7. Malta obviously inspired by Coach Neil's half time talk went on the attack, knowing that they had to score first in the second half to put the Czech's under pressure. From a series of attacking phases with Tom Holloway(9) directing traffic, Clay- ton Cassar(5) scored under the posts from a Quarendon f lat pass. Czechs 24, Malta 12. But the Czechs came roaring back, using their big runners to get close, they went over the tryline, on five occasions, but the Malta forwards managed to hold the ball up off the deck. But from the 5 metre scrum the Czech power and control at the back of the scrum, allowed the substitute scrumhalf Kovar(21) to score, another Forst conver- sion took the score to 29 to 14. Malta went close to scoring with an in- terplay between Quarendon, Morris and Kirk but the final pass to Apsee inches from the line was knocked on. James Kirk(14) was injured and was replaced by Rory O'Brien(22) Terrence Galdes came on for Harvey(3) and Cer- keta into the second row, but the fresh legs didn't make the task any easier as a powerful run downfield by Hruska(6) of- f loading to Loutocky(8) and the ex-Nar- bonne/Bourdeau player Voves(5) took the ball deep into Maltese territory, earning them a penalty which was kicked by Forst. Czechs 34, Malta 14. The big Czech forwards again took the ball into Malta territory, a gallant defence tried to keep them out, but an off load on the line put Frank(4) in for a try. Malta hammered away for a period of time, but just could not bust their way through the defensive wall, Quarendon's chip over the Czech backs was caught by Pantucek(13) who ran it back at Malta tak- ing play right and into the hands of Forst who scored in the corner. Forst converted the last two tries to make the final score the Czech Republic 48, Malta 14. Men of the Match: Robert Voves. Malta: Dan Apsee. Malta: Daniel Holliday(1) Harry Col- lins(2) Anthony Harvey(3) Darren De- guara(4) Clayton Cassar(5) Luke Watts(6) Daniel Apsee(7) Mark Davey(8) Tom Hol- loway(9) Toby Quarendon(10) Chris Dud- man(11) Dominic Busutil(C/12) Rob Hol- loway(13) James Kirk(14) James Morris(15). Reserves: Mathew Spiteri(16) Dragan Cer- keta(17) Terence Galdes(18) Benji Borg(19) Aaron Vella(20) Julian Galea(21) Rory O'Brien(22) George Hepburn(23).