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 ©