Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/838705
maltatoday SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 2017 Sport 54 PHIL GIBBS MALTA Marauders Veterans rugby team reached the final of the Prague International Veterans tournament for the second year running, but missed out on the tro- phy yet again. Marauders were drawn in Pool A of the eight-team tournament, and were first on against the French team Gros Moignons. This proved to be the hardest game of the pool, and Marauders won by a single try from winger Alan Billington. The second game saw Maraud- ers face Moldova, and tries from Steve Perry, Graeme Petchey and Andy Longley gave them a well-de- served victory. The final pool game pitched Marauders against Czech side Moravkoletski Orli, and a bril- liant try from Longley secured the win. At the end of the preliminary stage, Marauders had topped their pool, without conceding a try. This earned them a place in the final against hot favourites Hamilton Dynamiters, an international tour- ing team from the oldest club in South Africa. With a squad of only 15 against a Dynamiters squad of double that size, Marauders knew they were up against it, and so it proved. They gave everything they had from the first whistle, but could not pierce the superb Ham- ilton defence, and with their fast- paced back line on fire and a fresh bench of replacements to bring on, the South African team took the honours with a 25-0 win. So Marauders came away with the runners-up trophy for the second consecutive year. Club president Phil Gibbs thanked sponsors STM Malta, praised the overall perfor- mance of the team, which con- tained three players over 60, and said they would return next year to hopefully make it third time lucky. RUGBY Malta Marauders reach Prague final Tough weekend for the women's national team in the Czech Republic KIRBY ATTARD LAST weekend, the women's na- tional rugby team was in Ostra- va, Czech Republic, represent- ing Malta in the Rugby Europe Women's 7s Trophy, having been promoted last year as runners- up of the Women's 7s Confer- ence after a memorable weekend where the team won all but one of their six scheduled games. This year the Maltese team will have to compete twice against opponents of a good caliber, such as Scotland, Finland and Germa- ny. Ostrava is the first leg of the tournament, the second one be- ing in Hungary late in July. The main purpose this year is to remain in this division. The squad is made up of experienced as well as young players, where Marion Azzopardi, Amanda Cassar and Beverie Sultana donned the national kit for the 11th year. On the other hand, it was the first capped experienced for Jacqueline Richard, whose athletic capabilities were ideal for her position as winger. Malta faced Finland (22-0), Hungary (28-7) and Switzerland (41-5) in Pool A of the Trophy on Saturday gathering three losses. The Maltese tries were scored by Richard, with Amanda Cas- sar converting one. The Sunday games saw the team facing Lat- via first, with a possibility of going through to contend the Challenge Trophy. The game was tied at 15 all at the end of the regular 14 min- utes, with two tries by A. Cassar and one by captain Sultana. A tied result meant an extra 5 min- utes on the clock, with the game being won by the golden point. The girls held high, giving their all but in the end, it was Latvia who found the opportunity to score the golden try needed to win the game. This meant Mal- ta was in to fight for 11th place with Israel. The team's final game was a one sided affair with Israel scoring seven tries, con- verting two, ending the game at Israel 39 – 0 Malta. Malta placed 12th in this division. Attention now turns towards the second leg of the tourna- ment, held on the weekend of the 22nd – 23rd July in Eszter- gom, Hungary. Development camps will restart in the coming week with the coaches working around the clock to strengthen and improve the team. The Maltese squad: Marion Azzopardi, Rodianne Bugeja, Claire Casha, Amanda Cas- sar, Sairita Cassar, Wendy Pace, Jacqueline Richard, Kimberley Riolo, Donevellon Sladden, Ma- ria Spiteri, Beverie Sultana (cap- tain), Tessabelle Sultana.