Stompers roared back to life after two disappointing weeks but fell just short of winning the MRFU Cup last weekend. From the start, their spirit came to the fore as John Tonna and Jovan Reljic were prominent in exchanges and Max Galea, at scrum half, distributed and marshalled like a veteran.

In contrast, Kavallieri were clumsy and slow-thinking. However, they regrouped after the interval to edge Stompers 22-20 and make this a memorable season following the league title which they secured a few weeks back.

The initial burst from Stompers led to a Malcolm Attard penalty but Kavallieri, with a strong following wind, soon began to exert territorial dominance even though they were too obvious to break a dogged defence. Inevitably, Attard pounced on yet another floated, telegraphed Kavallieri pass to sprint 70 metres for an interception try which he converted. Stompers led 10-0 at half-time.

With the wind now in their favour, Stompers started the second half by applying more pressure, forcing errors and winning another Attard penalty to go 13 points up.

At last, the dozy Kavallieri woke up and started to play like true champions, using the forwards and Roderick Attard's strategic kicking to gain ground. Stompers' discipline began to crack under the pressure and a succession of quick penalties set up Sean Doublesin for Kavallieri's first try.

More Stompers indiscipline led to Darren Mascena getting sin binned at a crucial time and the weakened forwards gave way to a series of driving mauls until Ian Borda scored for Kavallieri.

Stompers hit back strongly but were held by resolute defending. Then came a defining moment as Kavallieri drove a rolling maul some 40 metres out of defence into attack.

Stompers' player-coach Noah Hardie was sin binned and Kavallieri drove for the line. Borda burrowed over for his second try, converted by Attard.

Kavallieri went straight back into attack. There was a swift crisp ball to the ever dangerous Pierre Micallef to score another try.

It looked like a KO but injuries slowed Kavallieri and the Stompers speedsters were always ready to pounce on sloppy play. This happened when Pierre Azzopardi flipped a back pass straight to Stompers captain Patrick Satariano for the second breakaway interception try, converted by Satariano himself.

Stompers were only two points behind now. However, Kavallieri managed to keep the ball well in the their opponents' territory and played the game out, but not before they had Borda sin binned.

Stompers loose head prop Leo Mifsud fractured his arm. He will miss the forthcoming internationals against Poland and Andorra.

Malcolm Attard, of Stompers, was man of the match. The MRFU Cup was presented to Kavallieri by MRFU president Martin Galea.

Referee: Steven Busuttil.

Malta squad

National coach Damian Neill has announced a provisional 26-man squad for a training camp in the UK starting on Saturday.

This will be followed by two Nations Cup, Division 2B fixtures against Poland (May 10, Corradino) and Andorra (May 17, Andorra La Vella).

There are seven local players - An-drew Galea (Qormi); Clayton Cassar (Overseas); Matthew Mirabelli (Stompers); Daryl Psaila, David Borg, Ian Borda, Michael Bonavia (all Kavallieri). Notable names missing from the squad are Jamie Caruana and Ryan Borg, unavailable, Thomas Webb and Leo Mifsud, injured, and Michael Whitney, Saviour Zarb and Malcolm Attard not selected.

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