Stompers and Kavallieri live up to their billing

Globalair Overseas 17
Stompers 59

These two teams last met on December 2 in the Cisk Lager championship, with Stompers dominating the match. On Saturday, a large crowd, including national coach Damian Neill, gathered at Marsa to watch these two teams in action. Again, it was Stompers who chalked up a most convincing win.

Stompers were the first to put points on the board with Matthew Mirabelli scoring two successive tries. N. Hardie and M. Fountain then increased Stompers' lead with a try apiece.

Overseas were having problems securing the ball and they paid for it in points. But, true to form, they fought back, reducing Stompers' lead with a J. Howland try.

Stompers were not to be denied though as J. Zammit scored their fifth try, easing them into a comfortable 25-5 lead at half-time.

Although Overseas showed a marked improvement over their performance in the league, they could not match the sharp play of Stompers. They pulled together in the second half in a concerted effort to keep the Stompers in check. However, P. Satariano broke through and scored another try for Stompers, subsequently converting it.

A yellow card for Bonello saw Stompers a man down but Overseas were unable to take advantage.

Two successive tries by M. Fountain, and one by M. Galea put Stompers in a dominant position. Overseas tried to claw their way back with a try by G. Van Reevan, only for Satariano to score his second try of the half.

A yellow card for Satariano then gave Overseas another window of opportunity. This time they took it with M. Jackson scoring a try and converting it. But it was too little, too late as Mirabelli scored a final try for Stompers who won with a clear margin.

Hibernians Sharks 10
Kavallieri Blue Label 72

Kavallieri maintained their rich vein of form with another convincing performance.

Sharks have recently suffered from player attrition, causing them to forfeit the opening game of the cup. But, they admirably put this problem behind them and stormed through the Kavallieri defence to open the scoring with a try by M. Seychell.

The experienced Kavallieri side refused to allow this to unsettle them, and responded with a try scored and converted by R. Attard.

A yellow card was given to Kavallieri's I. Borg and the Sharks forwards pushed hard. However, R. Vella slipped through the Sharks' defence scoring a try that extended Kavallieri's lead.

The Sharks began to crumble as Borda scored two successive tries for Kavallieri, the second being converted by R. Attard. Kavallieri's P. Mangion was through late in the first half to give them a strong 29-5 lead.

Kavallieri maintained their domination in the second half with more tries from S. Doublesin, O. Caruana and Mangion confirming their supremacy.

The closing moments of the game saw a determined Sharks team still battling away as they tried to hit back. N. Blagioev finally scored a well deserved try in a game marking their most spirited performance to date.