Overseas prevail in low-scoring match

Alligators Cisk 5
Globalair Overseas 7

The wet conditions at Marsa on Saturday made handling tricky in a game during which neither side was able to establish any dominance.

The standard of play and entertainment was acceptable, however. In fact, Alligators were somewhat unlucky not to have snatched a win in the dying minutes when Jamie Acheson missed a penalty.

Alligators veteran Adrian Hillman seems to have found a new lease of life by changing to flanker from centre, where his defence was always a question mark.

Overseas started as if they would take control but Alligators soon pushed them back and after two successive charge downs, fly half Acheson followed up to score a try which he failed to convert.

Overseas had difficulty in organising their attacks as promising overlaps were ignored. Suddenly Alligators broke away and Christopher Cachia ran a good 60 metres only to lose the muddy ball as he touched down.

Overseas rookie Ross Thompson had earned a yellow card for an attempted trip but captain Robin Parnis England blew a great chance by taking the penalty illegally.

Finally, Overseas managed to launch their attack and Cachia scored a good try, converted by Paul Sparling for a 7-5 half-time lead.

Andrew O'Reilly was prominent for Overseas on the right flank. At one point he crossed the line but dropped the slippery ball.

Alligators were challenging hard when Overseas centre Edward Axisa made a determined break, passed to the sprightly Dean Mifsud Bonnici, who chipped the full-back only to fumble the pick-up.

Mighty kicks by Acheson ensured Alligators exerted pressure and a fine off-loading drive by the centres set up a potential match-winning penalty kick. Acheson, however, hit a fraction too wide.

Referee: Donald Hewer.

Man of the match: Jamie Acheson (Alligators).

Kavallieri York Cisk 53
Budweiser Q. Sharks 0

These two sides managed a good match in bad conditions with Qormi fighting bravely on despite the difference in class.

The surprising experiment of playing captain Andrew Galea as fly half was quite successful and full-back Matthew Falzon showed his potential in positioning, covering and tackling. The Qormi pack is working hard as a unit and should be encouraged by this performance.

The result was never in doubt though as Kavallieri played with confidence and skill. It is pleasing to see how well the two diminutive wings, Emanuel Lautier and Andrea Camilleri, run with evasive balance and are eager to get involved.

Pierre Micallef showed deft timing and positioning in the centre, but the best try was early on when Michael Bonavia burst through, passed to supporting brother Robert, who flipped the ball to scrum half Sean Doublesin to score.

Qormi enjoyed quite a long period of frenetic attack but when they come close to the line they seem to lose all shape and control in their urgency to score.

Kavallieri's tries were scored by Doublesin (3), captain Daniel Grima (2), Pierre Mangion, Michael Bonavia, Camilleri and Pierre Azzopardi. In the absence of injured Roderick Attard, conversions came from Doublesin (3) and Michael Bonavia.

Referee: Bryan Corlett.

Man of the match: Sean Doublesin (Kavallieri).