Stompers win tight match to top standings

Kavallieri 12
Stompers RFC 17

This was a clash between two teams seeking victory at all costs to book a place in the MRFU Cup final. The top two in the final standings qualify. After this match, Stompers are now the sole leaders.

It started off with some furious rugby. Kavallieri crashing their big runners up the 10 channel and looking to blast past Patrick Satariano but Stompers tackled like demons, not allowing Kavallieri over the line.

It was a tight game throughout the first half, but the trademark play of Stompers, using quick turnover ball and moving it wide, finally paid off when winger Luke Debattista scored the first try, successfully converted by Satariano.

Kavallieri, with one man sin-binned for 10 minutes for a head-high tackle, were playing against a strong wind but went through some phase play, working their way close to the Stompers line. Roderick Attard, just back from injury, then stepped past his marker and went in to score a try wide out. The conversion was unsuccessful.

In the second half, Kavallieri picked up their game and pinned Stompers on their own line for a good 10 minutes. They were winning Stompers' ball into the scrum as well, keeping the pressure on.

It looked like Kavallieri were getting back into the game but then, a quick penalty, taken by Matthew Mirabelli, had Stompers laying siege on the Kavallieri tryline.

Out of desperation to prevent a try, Grima didn't roll away in the tackle and he was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.

Another break from Stompers saw Satariano weaving his way through and then side-step the full-back, to go over beside the posts. The try was converted by Malcolm Attard.

Just a few minutes later Bonavia got sin-binned for a high tackle and Malcolm Attard stepped up to slot the penalty home.

Kavallieri were now playing desperate rugby, trying to force their way back into the game.

Near the end, they won a ruck close to the Stompers line. They released winger Boccaccini who dived over near the corner placing the ball short off the try-line.

Referee Steve Busuttil still awarded Kavallieri the dubious try and Roderick Attard scored from the conversion.

However, after that there was little time for Kavallieri to recover.