Malta 14
Lithuania 10
Malta completed a remarkable comeback yesterday to edge Lithuania 14-10 and all but secure their place in the Division 2A for the next two seasons.
James O’Brien was the catalyst behind Malta’s victory which should rank among the best ever for the national team at home. The Waterloo player scored all 14 points in a thrilling 10 second-half minutes to overturn a match that looked heading the visitors’ way at half-time.
Damien Neill’s men have now strengthened their grip on third place in the group with 16 points, three adrift of second-placed Lithuania but five ahead of Croatia and nine off tail-enders Latvia with only two matches to go.
Just before kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Adrian Wirth, a former MRFU president. He passed away last week.
Malta were unlucky not to take the lead after two minutes when O’Brien’s 20-metre penalty came off the upright.
The robust Lithuanians rarely ventured inside the Malta half in the opening stages. However, poor distribution of the ball in the final third was hampering the hosts’ ambitions of breaking the stalemate.
And, surprisingly, it was Lithuania who drew first blood on 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty some 20 metres out. Gediminas Marcisauskas kicked the ball in between the posts to put the visitors 3-0 ahead.
Lithuania had Evaldas Gaubys sin-binned but that didn’t stop them from a morale-boosting try on the stroke of half-time when Edmundas Jjiayinskas burst to touch home.
Marcisauskas made the conversion and Malta suddenly found themselves 10-0 down.
Neill’s half-time talk must have left its desired effect as his players took to the field with renewed verve.
The wind was behind Malta’s backs now and O’Brien converted a penalty and another followed soon after for the gap to whittle down to 10-6.
The Malta full-back was on fire and two minutes later he scored again with a superb drop goal.
Malta were now only one point behind. Lithuania are likely to win promotion from this group but yesterday fell under the pressure and on 57 minutes Neill’s men got the five-pointer they deserved and what a try it was.
The quick-thinking Rob Holloway kicked the ball across field to the right channel and in came O’Brien who flung fully to reach the ball from behind an opponent and over the try line.
It took Lithuania a few minutes to regain composure but once they did they pinned Malta inside their own 22 but to no avail as the Maltese blocked all their moves with a fort-like human barrier that held tight in a very tense finale.
Comments
James O’Brien: “Scoring all points in this remarkable victory for Malta is incredible. I’m delighted with this win as it’s the first time that I’ve been in the national team that won two matches in the space of a week.
“Maybe I’m the one to have scored the points today but credit goes to our backline who withstood Lithuania’s late onslaught and helped the team hold on to victory.”
Malta: K. Mason, H. Collins, A. Livsey, D. Deguara, C. Cassar, M. Bonavia, J. Howlands, M. Davey, T. Holloway, R. Holloway, O. Sacco, D. Busuttil, T. Quarendon, J. Kirk, J. O’Brien 14.
Sub used: M. Bonavia.
Lithuania: L. Tipelis, T. Zibolis, M. Kazlaliskas, M. Andriyauskas, E. Gaubys, J. Urbonas, A. Martinskas, M. Grigas, M. Misevieius, E. Jjiayinskas 5, V. Bloskys, G. Marcisauskas 5, J. Vasiliauskas, A. Euchleyus, E. Zilius.
Sub used: T. Gabrielaitis.
Referee: P. Montoya (Spain).
Other result: Croatia vs Latvia 34-8.
Standings: Sweden (5-1-0) 24; Lithuania (3-1-2) 19; Malta (3-0-3) 16; Croatia (2-0-4) 11; Latvia (1-0-5) 7.
Remaining matches: April 21 – Malta vs Sweden. April 28 – Latvia vs Lithuania; Croatia vs Malta. May 5 – Sweden vs Latvia; Lithuania vs Croatia.