Ladies produce entertaining fare

Valletta Lions 29
Overseas 5

The women’s teams in the MIA 10s Cup produced an entertaining exhibition of running rugby, showing excellent passing and teamwork skills at Marsa last weekend.

Despite the score, Overseas gave Valletta a close contest in the opening match.

Overseas’ strong pack won ground with close drives but soon Valletta were attacking and Bondin scored with a long run in from halfway.

Valletta continued to attack but Overseas’ tackling was low and hard, until Farrugia weaved her way past three defenders to score a second try, converted by Gauci.

Mooney defended well for Overseas and put in several good positional kicks. A huge drive by the Overseas pack gained ground and Valletta were flustered into poor tackling technique as the powerful Cassar scored for Overseas.

Valletta launched several attacks after that but Overseas’ cover tackling, especially Vella-Bonnici, kept them out. At half-time, Valletta led 12-5.

Overseas won plenty of ball in the second half but all too often chose to run on the blind side when there were plenty of players wide, Fenech-Soler often being the guilty party.

Gauci made a good break from deep and swapped passes with Borg before the speedy Vella Bonnici closed the attack down.

Valletta attacked again but although they had the right ideas, they were too sloppy in passing and thinking. However, Gauci was able to power her way over after a somewhat confused attacking drive.

Mooney was still kicking well for Overseas until Gauci seized a dropped ball and, straightening her line with a swerve, cut through to score under the posts, which she converted.

Finally, Farrugia scored the best try of the match, after fast inter-passing and an incisive break.

Kavallieri 29
Alligators 7

Alligators showed huge improvement under their new coach, Twigg, and the score did not really illustrate the close-fought struggle.

Kavallieri also fielded new-comer Maria Spiteri. She showed promise in her angled running and timing to open the scoring with a try, which she repeated after a long period of territorial pressure.

The Gators’ defence and covering was holding out Kavallieri until Psaila scored and Cassar converted to gain a half-time lead of 17-0.

Kavallieri extended their advantage with a penalty try for a high tackle, converted by Cassar, but then seemed to lose their pattern as Alligators raised their game.

Jones lost her head and was yellow-carded for not retreating before tackling and suddenly the Gators were in with a chance as they drove forward. Their passing was too laboured though but big Brenda Agius burrowed over for a try (converted by Casha) after Psaila had been yellow-carded for Kavallieri.

Both sides raised their pace again and in a spirited encounter Sammut, of Alligators, was sin-binned for a high tackle.

Cassar sealed the game for Kavallieri with a beautifully-timed change of pace to fool the defence and score.