Kavallieri 19
Qrendi Falcons 15

In the last Cisk Lager League game for 2016, Kavallieri won it in the last minute, scoring a try to snatch a win over Qrendi Falcons who had done the same to Sliema Stompers in their previous match at Marsa.

This was a tense clash with the fear of a loss probably in the minds of both teams.

Kavallieri tried to keep it tight up front but they were having trouble getting out of their own half for the first 20 minutes as a few promising moves fizzled out due to dropped passes.

Falcons scored first on 27 minutes after constant pressure on the Kavallieri line finally bore fruit. Aaron Borg received the ball out wide and flashed down the touchline, beating would-be tacklers to score a try that was not converted.

Kavallieri were quick in retaliation, winning several penalties from Falcons’ infringements. Then from a lineout and maul, Chris Desira scored, going over in a heap of bodies. With Joseph Cutajar’s conversion, Kavallieri were 7-5 in front and that score took the game through to half-time.

Kavallieri raised their game in the second half with Napoletano, Borg and Galdes all carrying strongly and for a period of 10 minutes they laid siege to the Falcons’ tryline.

Finally, the excellent Jean-Pierre Zammit bashed his way through to score 10 metres in from the touchline, an unconverted try – 12-5.

Julian Galea was trying to get Falcons back into the game but a few moves came unstuck due to lack of cohesion inside the team. Kavallieri’s rush defence also did not allow their opponents any room for manoeuvre.

Repeated infringements around the tackle area from both teams had referee Lionel Da Silva laying down the law and giving both teams a final warning.

In the next play he flashed a yellow card to Kavallieri’s Josef Borg for not releasing the tackled player.

Falcons took their game to the Kavallieri 22. Halliday led his charging pack forward, giving front-foot ball to Galea who threw a dummy pass and went over to score, inching the score closer at 12-10.

Dalton was sin binned for a high tackle and for a few minutes Kavallieri were down to 13 men.

At that point it looked like Falcons had found their game and would kick on to win it.

They moved wide but lost momentum as Kavallieri swarmed on the ball carrier. However, Cost-Critien received an offload and scored to put Falcons 15-12 in front.

Now, Falcons just needed to play smart, kick for territory and force Kavallieri to have to run it from 80 metres out. However, they did not change tactics which allowed Kavallieri to keep attacking from close.

Falcons were under pressure and in the last minute of the game Edmunds scored out wide for Kavallieri from a wrap-around play.

Cutajar floated the conversion in, triggering the Kavallieri celebrations after a great comeback win.

Referee: Lionel da Silva.

Men of the match
Darren Edmunds and Vince Farrugia.