Stompers – the team to beat

Stompers 44
Kavallieri 3

Stompers earned the tag as the team to beat this season after sweeping past Kavallieri, handing them one of their biggest defeats in league competition for several years.

Kavallieri started well but failed to score from their trademark lineout drive when the Stompers pack toughed them out, which clearly posted a warning.

Kavallieri gained a penalty but Edwards missed the conversion.

Facing the wind, Stompers were forced to run the ball out rather than kick as the first 15 minutes were spent in their half. Finally, two flowing moves by Stompers backs pushed them into Kavallieri territory, as a well-timed pass put Camilleri away on the burst, only to be stopped by Kawara.

More Stompers pressure led to a penalty, a quick tap and long pass out to wing Ed Attard to score the first try.

Stompers were hungry to run now that they had soaked up the early pressure.

Malcolm Attard added a penalty and Ed Attard snapped up grubber kick-off from Edwards to dodge close to the line and Ellul scored with a powerful charge off the ensuing ruck.

Kavallieri reacted and Kawara went close but Stompers were impenetrable until Edwards scored from a penalty.

Kavallieri went back up the field and Edwards kicked into the corner off a penalty and set them up for a driving lineout, but this time Stompers simply pushed them back out of the 22m area.

Kavallieri were penalised in desperation and M. Attard kicked beautifully into the corner. From there Stompers launched attacks but it was Kavallieri’s turn to defend well.

A poor clearance kick put the ball into Stompers’ hands and Ed Attard dodged through yet again, releasing M. Attard to score under the posts and convert his own try.

Stompers led 20-3 at half-time.

Stompers started the second half with the wind at their backs and from a scrum Debattista was released in a burst on the blind side. He was too powerful for the tacklers and another converted try stretched the lead.

Kavallieri were being stretched by the fast and wide passing Stompers backs, who were excellent in choosing a variety of angles from which to launch their bursts and support.

M. Attard placed a kick into the corner with surgical precision and the forwards drove in for another try.

Then, Stompers’ Bradley headed for the sin-bin and the game became more even, until Borda, of Kavallieri, received a red card.

Kavallieri continued to attack, however, and Camilleri at full-back was forced to show his class under pressure.

After a while Stompers escaped from their own half and M. Attard burst and swerved his way through some poor tackling to score under the posts and convert.

With Kavallieri a man short, Stompers turned the pressure screw and scored a final unconverted try.