Sliema Stompers 20
Kavallieri 16
Stompers edged out Kavallieri in a close and exciting encounter.
The first score went to Stompers after 10 minutes when Attard kicked a penalty awarded for hands in the ruck.
Kavallieri nearly scored four minutes later when Zerafa intercepted on the halfway line but the move ended with a penalty to Stompers, again for handling in the ruck.
Attard doubled Stompers’ lead on 23 minutes when he notched up another penalty when Kavallieri failed to roll away, but Griffiths pegged a penalty back when Borg slipped his binding in front of the posts.
Stompers grabbed the first try of the game when some clever interplay between Mirabelli, Attard and Zerafa opened up a gap for Cerketa to exploit.
His storming run took him over the line. Attard converted to fire Stompers 13-3 ahead.
Kavallieri reduced the deficit from a penalty, given for offside, and a few minutes before half-time, Stompers hooker Gatt was yellow-carded for handling in the ruck, just seconds after referee Steve Busuttil had warned both captains about such indiscretions.
Kavallieri started the second half more disciplined and the flow of penalties against them dried up.
They were attacking for the first 10 minutes of the half when Stompers got their second try against the run of play. They set up a driving maul down the left wing to rumble over the line from five metres out. Martin emerged from the pile as the scorer and Attard slotted the conversion with his best kick of the day from way out on the left touchline.
Kavallieri hit back strongly and kept up the pressure with driving runs and were eventually rewarded with a try on 64 minutes, when Griffiths, who had a fine game, chipped ahead for full-back Edmunds to chase and gather for the score under the posts. The conversion took the score to 20-13 and set up a thrilling finale.
Kavallieri camped in Stompers’ red zone and pressed for another try before wasting an excellent chance when they set up a rolling maul 10 metres out, won a penalty but chose to kick to touch instead of running it up. They lost the line-out and with it probably the win.
Kavallieri did convert a penalty a few minutes later but Stompers finished strongly to hold on to their advantage, winning 20-16.
Man of the match was Stompers flanker Jaco Barnard.