Jarrett shines in comeback win

Sweden 6
Malta 9

Malta bounced back from the home upset to Croatia the previous weekend when they came from behind to beat Sweden 9-6 in a Nations Cup Division 2B qualifier in, Vannersborg, Sweden, yesterday.

Many had given the Maltese little chance to beat the Swedes away following the morale-damaging last-gasp 18-16 defeat to the Croats and the sudden departure of Jarrod Sammut who was stopped from playing for the country by Australiasia's National Rugby League due to what they termed a breach of contract by the fly-half.

When Damien Neill's team fell back to 6-0 yesterday, all predictions seemed to be coming true.

The players were taking too long to settle down against Sweden. However, once they did there was no looking back this time around.

Inspired by the superb kicking and play of Michael Jarrett, Malta went on to turn the match in their favour and cruise to their first victory in the group that also includes Latvia and the Netherlands.

Neill effected two changes from the team that started against Croatia. James Finlason came on for Sammut while Steve Kempster was preferred to Ashley Spencer.

At the end of the Croatia match, Neill had lamented Malta's poor discipline in key moments of the match and that seemed to be the case again yesterday when the visitors converted two penalties inside the opening 25 minutes, both converted by Thomas Arvidsson.

However, the Maltese refused to buckle down and Jarrett, who took the team's kicking duties from Sammut, halved the gap on 29 minutes when scoring a penalty to leave Malta trailing 6-3.

Five minutes from the break, Sweden had a good chance to increase their lead but Arvidsson's shot was too short.

Malta started the second half strongly and after only two minutes they managed to draw level when they were awarded a penalty from 22 metres out. Jarrett struck again to make it six-all.

Sweden sought to regain the initiative but found an organised Malta defence that blocked all their attempts and soaked the pressure without losing composure.

Then, seven minutes from time Malta won a penalty which was again converted by Jarrett to put the team in front for the first time in the match - 9-6.

With victory again in sight, the Maltese were determined not to repeat the previous week's mistakes in the dying seconds of the match at the Hibs Ground. This time, they defended grimly to secure a memorable victory.

Neill's comments

Contacted by The Sunday Times after the match, Neill was delighted with the performance of his players.

"It was a great display from the whole team today," he said.

"We played against a very strong side. We knew that but we still believed we could do it and kept battling hard even when things were not going our way.

"Once we levelled the match it was a case of who would handle the pressure best in key moments of the match. This time the players did not let us down and stepped up their game when needed most.

"This is a very important win for us. Hopefully, this result will be the launch pad of a great campaign in Division 2B."

Other result: Netherlands vs Croatia 18-12.

Current standings: Sweden 4 (1-0-1); Malta 4 (1-0-1); Croatia 4 (1-0-1); Netherlands 3 (1-0-0); Latvia 1 (0-0-1).

Next matches: (April 18, 2009) Netherlands vs Sweden; Latvia vs Malta.

Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand vs Australia 14-9.

Malta
I. Borda; H. Collins; K. Mason; C. Diamantino; D. Psaila; S. Kempster; P. Calgaro; G. Kennedy (captain); M. Mirabelli; M. Jarrett; J. Finlason; D. Busuttil; D. Felice ('63 T. Watts); L. Culnane; O. Sacco. Subs: A. Galea; A. Bartolo; M. McArdle; C. Cassar; M. Bonavia; A. Spencer.

Sweden
F. Casselhag; A. Persson; E. Trogen; E. Lundqvist; A. Letele; J. Pettersson; V. Pettersson; M. Tatu; T. Arvidsson; R. Opku; B. Nave; A. Bruhn; T. Johansson; R. Johansson; M. Thornblad. Subs: D. Lidberg; L. Hector; O. Wadell; T. Borg; C. Lundell; N. Ekdahl.

Referee: M. Donovan (Denmark).