Malta’s brave efforts were not enough to deny the Netherlands at the Hibs Stadium this afternoon as the Division 2A leaders cruised to a comfortable 33-10 victory.

The Dutch were a cut above the Maltese on the day after scoring five well-taken tries to all but secure promotion to Division 1B next season.

The Dutch quickly imposed their game and profiting from some hesitant defending from the Malta backline they took only six minutes to score the first try when Storm Carroll slid the ball through for Rob Van Der Velde who sped over the try line to put the visitors ahead.

Norbeccio Mambo duly converted to give his team a 7-0 lead.Malta struck back on 20 minutes James when O’Brien set up Mark Davey who embarked on a storming run to score the hosts’ first try of the match.

O’Brien missed the conversion to leave the Dutch 7-5 ahead.

The Netherlands came storming back and after a series of driving mauls they finally got another breakthrough on 25 minutes when Flories Kieft touch the ball over the goalline for their second try.

Mambo made no mistake from the conversion to put the Dutch 14-5 ahead.There was more disappointment for the hosts as on 33 minutes good passing from the Dutch released Huey Van Vliet who sped unimpeded for their try of the day.

Mambo made it three from three from the conversion spot to hand the Netherlands a massive 21-5 half-time lead.Malta started the second half in storming fashion as with just over a minute played Toby Quarendon showed great handling skills to released Daniel Apsee to run past the goalline.

O’Brien continued to misfire from the conversion line to leave the Dutch 21-10 ahead.

The Dutch broke the Maltese momentum on 55 minutes when from another driving maul it was Vincent Grimbergen who touched the ball home. Mambo failed to conversion as the Dutch led 26-10.

The Netherlands who wrapped up victory in time added on when substitute Amir Rademaker scored a fifth try for the Dutch which was duly converted by Mambo to complete an emphatic victory.