Alligators 6
Stompers 52

This scoreline might give an impression of a one-sided match but that was not the case as Alligators continued to show progress and made Stompers work hard for their victory at Marsa, last weekend.

In fact, at first the Gators enjoyed territorial edge and captain Briffa kicked the side into the lead with two well-taken penalties.

But, Bernard then made a good catch from the second kick-off and finally Stompers enjoyed a pro-longed stay in their opponents’ territory, leading to a clever penalty into the corner by Zerafa.

Resolute defence by the Gators kept Stompers out through a series of scrums until the overlap was finally created and sweeping passes along the line freed up Camillieri for the inevitable try.

Attard missed the conversion.

Alligators then lost two players, including captain Briffa, and their resistance suddenly began to crumble.

First, Attard scored and con-verted his own try and from kick-off, Alvares counter attacked, broke through and sent the sup-porting Attard in yet again.

Meintjes converted and at the break Stompers led 19-6.

The second half started with a cruel piece of luck for the Gators as a dropped ball was wildly hacked on down half the pitch and Meintjes was adjudged to have won the race to touch down under the posts.

His conversion was easy and now Stompers were exerting pressure on somewhat demoralised opponents.

C. Briffa was next to score, again under the posts... again converted by Meintjes.

The powerful Alvares launched himself yet again from the base of the Stompers’ back, released Galea, who took the ball to a scrum on the Gators line, then a lineout.

Alligators won possession but Sammut’s clearance was poor and from that position the ball went out to Meintjes who rocketed a superb long-range pass to Boulais, unmarked on the wing, for an easy try.

Stompers went straight back on the attack with a series of forward charges and offloads and prop forward Sullivan was sent into the clear to score under the posts yet again (converted by Attard).

At last, Alligators went back in attack and spent some time close to the Stompers’ line but just could not finish the job and score.

Stompers gradually worked their way back and the old switch-and-dummy partnership of Satariano and Attard split the defence for the latter to ground the try and Meintjes to convert.