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 ©