Second-half Dutch flurry foils Malta
Malta 9Netherlands 27 Three quick second-half tries spurred the Netherlands to a convincing victory over Malta in a World Cup Division 2B qualifier at a packed Hibs Ground yesterday. The locals, who were looking to win this match with a margin of 24...
Malta 9
Netherlands 27
Three quick second-half tries spurred the Netherlands to a convincing victory over Malta in a World Cup Division 2B qualifier at a packed Hibs Ground yesterday.
The locals, who were looking to win this match with a margin of 24 points or more to secure provisional top place, had held their own against a more-quoted team in the opening 40 minutes, going into the interval 9-8 ahead after three penalty conversions from Paul Marzella.
However, the visitors showed their class with three successive tries after the break to cruise home to a comfortable victory.
The Netherlands completed their first round with maximum points from four matches which means qualification to a World Cup play-off in June.
Marzella handed Malta a great start when he converted a penalty after only three minutes.
The Netherlands fought back strongly though and their pressure paid off on 18 minutes when Gerard Viguurs burst over the line after an elaborate move. Bart Viguurs miscued his attempted conversion to leave the Dutch 5-3 ahead.
Damian Neill's men regained the lead just short of the half-hour when Marzella fired home from another penalty.
The match remained evenly balanced but it was the Netherlands who scored next, courtesy of a Bart Viguurs penalty. However, on 38 minutes Marzella kept his 100 per cent rate from penalties to put Malta 9-8 before lemon time.
The Dutch took the ground running after the interval, scoring two tries from Fedde Lingsma and another from Jason Knox with substitute Peter Te Kulve adding two conversions to put the match firmly in their grasp.
That bright patch for the Dutch took the steam out of the Maltese who simply could not fight back. In the end, they had to bow to their opponents' superior qualities.
Malta: K. Mason, H. Collins, P. Bradley, C. Diamantino, D. Psaila, S. Kempster, P. Calgaro, M. Mirabelli, M. Jarrett, R. Spiteri, D. Busuttil, P. Marzella 9, O. Sacco, L. Culnane, J. O'Brien.
Subs used: L. Watts, I. Borda, M. Bonavia, J. Finlason
Netherlands: A. Jonkers, M. Vander Cruijssen, C. Buburuzan; R. Van Trigt, K. Buseman, B. Teijsse, G. Viguurs 5, J. Knox 5, R. Scheffer, F. Lingsma 10, J.J. Boske, J. Bonhof, R. Roovers, T. Klumper, B. Viguurs 3.
Subs used: B. De Rouw, H. Eijkemans, P. Te Kulve 4.
Referee: M. Rosich (France).