Kavallieri Women vs Oxford Matches Reports

source: www.maltasport.com

In their first ever full 15-a-side game, Kavallieri Women, playing as representatives of Malta excelled themselves in holding a strong and experienced Oxford University Womens' Rugby Club side to lose by 58 points.
Besides gave Oxford a tough physical test in their build up to the annual Varsity Match against rivals Cambridge in early March.
To put the match in perspective, Oxford have won 6 of their 8 matches so far this season and have already beaten arch rivals Cambridge 38 - 0 in a league match, so are one of the top university sides in Britain. One of the women playing , Bethany Walsh, is a current senior Welsh international.
The Malta girls were never going to win this one but their running and tackling was formidable.
The difference between the two sides was that when Oxford had possession they managed to recycle and work the ball from side to side through their experience and gradually open up an overlap for their speed merchants Walsh, Gellman and Dunstone to cash in. Oxford named left wing Sarah Dunstone their player of the match.
Unfortunately the inexperience of the Maltese girls led to giving away a lot of penalties, which often lost them hard gained ground and gave the initiative back to Oxford. By agreement coaches Damien Neill and Bobby Bonavia stayed on the pitch to help Kavallieri guide their positioning.
Sarah Vella was unavailable for Malta after receiving an injury in the seven-a-side match, which reduced Malta's attacking options.
Nevertheless this was a heroic performance by all the Kavallieri women, with Nadia Gosney, Nathalie Vassallo, Esther Farrugia and small but tough tackling Victoria Aquilina deserving special mention.
After the game both teams returned to the Kavallieri HQ at Smerc Pub in Attard where they indulged in traditional rugby riotous celebration and noisy song with enormous enthusiasm and friendship. Kavallieri pledged their support for Oxford in the Varsity match and Oxford promised to return to Malta.
During their stay in Malta, they have been helped in their training by Mr. Damien Neill, the Malta National Coach, who helped their assistant coach, Mr. Simon North during several sessions.
Women's Rugby is said to be the fastest growing sport in the world , and the Maltese women could perform well amongst other countries if only they can recruit enough players to find regular competition and gain experience.

By: Mike Turner ©

Kavallieri, Overseas Win

Cisk Lager League Results
Kavallieri vs Sharks 113-0
Overseas vs Stompers 22-12

article: source www.maltasport.com

Kavallieri brushed aside Sharks 113-0, while Overseas saw off Stompers 22-12 at Marsa Sports Complex on Saturday.
In the first match Stompers started with great determination and co-ordination against another Overseas team containing newcomers and dominated the first half territorially.
The first try was scored by Satariano after the ball had moved well from side to side and opened up the defence, Malcom Attard failed with the kick.
The Overseas pack were able to outscrum and lift Stompers in the tight several times but Stompers were still winning the ball.
They enjoyed a considerable advantage in the lineout. Stompers were needlessly offside from a kick, showing indiscipline or over excitement. This gave Overseas the opportunity to take a quick tap and scoop it out to wing Johnathon Stone, who finished off a good try with his usual determined speed.
This inspired Stompers to hit straight back with a superb try, winning the ruck and swinging the ball along the line, this time Attard converted.
However, before half time, Overseas escaped the pressure for another attack and a second good try by Stone, converted by Newbould.. So after all that pressure the score was drawn at 12 each.
The second half saw a remarkable change, in that Stompers were on the receiving end for most of the time.
Nevertheless their defence was solid until indiscipline took its toll and they actually started to argue amongst themselves. Inevitably, Newbould was able to take advantage and danced, jigged and jinked his way over for a remarkable individual try which he converted.
He later added a penalty and despite a final flourish of pressure from Stompers, Overseas hung on to win.

In a one-sided match, Kavallieri found no difficulty to beat Sharks 113-0 yet again the keen young men from the Hibs Ground never lost their passion and kept their heads high. They tackled well and often gained good territory. Coach Longo and captain Spagnol are doing well.
Kavallieri are a very well trained squad this year and worked well together as a unit, even though they fielded several players who are usually on the bench.
It was a brave move for Sharks to split off to become a separate club, but each week these beginners are improving and within two years they will be competing equally with the rest provided they can keep their spirit and concentrate on learning. They are also mostly youngsters who have yet to grow to full strength.
Rugby is a hard game and Kavallieri are not prepared to ease up; not only are they much more experienced but several of them are yards faster. Another conversion from soccer, Roderick Attard is improving week by week as a Kavallieri back.

By: Mike Turner ©

First Competitive Junior League Ever Huge Success

The Juniors' Sevens Christmas Tournament, organised by three clubs in Malta,proved to be a success as competitive rugby was played for the first time amongst junior players at club level.

The Sevens Tournament witnessed the participation of four teams namely Aloysians, St. Edwards College, Stompers and Stompers B with Aloysians, Stompers B and St. Edwards' College playing rugby for the first time ever.

Aloysians managed to win a game out of the three played and score 35 points in all. In fact Aloysians lost their debut game against strong side Stompers 40-0 but then came back against St. Edwards' and won 25-0 with tries from Bostelmann (2) Bonnici Mallia (2) and Mizzi.

The match against Sompers B proved to be a close encounter with the end result being 15-10 for the latter. Tries for Aloysians were scored by Bonnici Mallia and Tanti Burlo'. This meant that Bonnici Mallia ended up as the top scorer for Aloysians with 15 points in all. Definitely a good start for a player that was making his debut and had just returned from a knee injury.

The tournament was won from Stompers with three victories out of three matches played.

More news and results of the Sevens Christmas Tournament as soon as they arrive.

TryLine 2004.

Malta to Participate in VB Sevens

Malta Rugby League Association is working hard to promote the Rugby Leage code amongst the community. Maltasport.com reports

source:www.maltasport.com

Malta will challenge for the ten thousand dollar 2005 Orara Valley Sevens, with the tournament providing good preparation for the 2005 VB Sevens in Sydney, Australia the following month.
MRLA Chairman George Tonna confirmed Malta's entry and is excited at Malta's first big opportunity for the national team to be tested on a well and truly professional and international scale.
Malta will join the likes of international teams such as Lebanon, Fiji, Fiji A and the USA as well the remainder of the 40 teams competing in the two day tournament in January to be held on the east coast of Australia at Coffs Harbour, fielding a strong side and promising to give the well established nations more than just a run for their money.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to participate in our first internationally recognised tournament, not to mention it being underwritten by Russell Crowe"
"Malta as a rugby league nation is in its youth, but this opening will allow us to expand both on and off the field" Tonna said.
Malta officials hope to field a strong team boasting ex Sharks' Ben Sammut who will lead the Knights with his skilled yet youthful chargers including Western Suburbs Magpies' Ryan Borg, Parramatta Eels' Simon Micallef and Malta rugby union international Rohan Spiteri and say a guest appearance by Mario 'The Maltese Falcon' Fenech can't be ruled out.
"…There's always the chance that Mario will want to don the red and white of Malta" Tonna revealed.
Malta officials are also hopeful of meeting the tournament's backer in celebrity Russell Crowe who has lived and experienced the lifestyle of the Maltese while filming Gladiator in Malta in 1999.
"Russell has a renowned relationship with the Maltese and it would be wonderful for the Malta Knights to meet the original gladiator" says Tonna.
Malta head coach Joe Grima will announce a 12-man squad by December 24 and is confident Malta will be well prepared for the tournament.
Former NRL hard man Mark Carroll will lead the Barbarians team throughout the Orara Valley Sevens tournament and has reportedly lined up some of the game's best former players including Brad Fittler, Ryan Girdler, Mark Geyer, Jack Elsegood as well as himself to take the field that will surely provide for a spectacle over the two day event.
Malta's sevens commitments will continue on February 12th when they test themselves at the revised edition of the former World Sevens, in the new format known as the VB Sevens to be contested at the Western Weekender Stadium in Sydney.

Score A Try This Christmas!

This Christmas score a try by registering your site's name in the Give Malta a Rugby Pitch Campaign.
Malta has been discussing with the authorities the lease of a piece of land to be converted to a rugby pitch for five (5) years but no success was registered. Furthermore Malta stands a risk of losing a STG 50,000 grant from the IRB for the cnstruction of a new pitch if no action is taken.
Help us raise awaresness in Malta and abroad about the state of sports facilities in our country. Show us your support in three easy steps.
Step 1. Display the campaign logo on your site

Step2. Comment on the Campaign main page saying your name, country and your site's URL
Step3. Your comment data shall be entered in the Supporting Web Sites Register and Count.

The larger the count on the register the greater the awareness we can raise about this issue. The ball is in your hands!

Malta Rugby to Celebrate Christmas in Style

The Malta Rugby scene shall be celebrating Christmas in style this year with a series of events despite the dangerous state of its rugby pitch.
The first event is the traditional Interteam Boxing Day Charity Match being played with players hailing from the six different teams competing in the MRFU organised competitions. This match shall be played to raise funds for a charity chosen by the MRFU itself.
There are two new events being organised this year by different organising bodies. These are the rugby day planned to be held on the 28th of December, organised by the Clubs' Committee of the MRFU and the Sevens Youth Tournament (date T.B.C.)
The Clubs' Committee has in fact agreed to organise a day of events at the Marsa Pitch followed by a BBQ at a chosen restaurant in the Sliema area.
The Youth Tournament is being organised by a group of individuals involved in Youth Development in malta. Six teams are expected to compete in this event.
TryLine: 2004

First Supporters Enroll

Edinburgh Rugby Official Supporters Club has become the first supporters club to support our cause! We would like to thank Avril A. Brown, Chairman of the Supporter's Club and the team at www.edunburghgunners.org.uk for their support.

Malta RFU will loose a grant soon of no action is taken.
Support Give Malta Rugby a Pitch Now!
See Campaign Details for more information.

Give Malta a Rugby Pitch! Campaign Details

Support Maltese Rugby in exerting pressure on the authorities in order to grant the sport a proper pitch where to play and train. Malta Rugby has been trying for 5 years to secure a new pitch to no avail. Malta will soon be loosing a STG 50,000 grant if no agreement is reached with the government. We need your help now!

How?
Place one of the codes shown below on your web site. This will link your web site to ours. Notify us of your participation by posting a comment. We will add your site's name as supporting our cause. Participation is free of charge.

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HELP US GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS!

THE MALTA RUGBY SAGA - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Following the article displayed yesterday on maltasport.com, reported below, TryLine is organising an online awareness campaign about the state of rugby in Malta. Help us promote sport in Malta. Help us raise awareness about this issue.

You can help by:

Comment
Commenting to the post below. State your name, country and ID card number. This will later be presented as a petition.

Link to us.
Link to our blogsite. We shall be keeping everyone updated on the latest developments on this issue.

TryLine would like to thank you in advance for your support

Matthew Mizzi