Malta 16
Latvia 13
The national team revived hopes of preserving its status in Division 2B yesterday after battling to a 16-13 win over Latvia in a hard-fought Nations Cup qualifier at the Hibs Ground.
It was a lion-hearted performance from the hosts who staved off the physical challenge of the Latvians and held on to a slim lead despite having to play the last 10 minutes of the match with a player less.
Victory lifted Malta in fourth place in the group with ten points, three ahead of bottom-placed Andorra who travel to Riga this week to play Latvia in another qualifier.
National coach Damien Neill was a relieved man at the end of yesterday's match.
"This is one of our best performances in international rugby," the Malta coach told The Sunday Times.
"Today we played against one of the best teams in our group and the players deserve all praise.
"It's always difficult for us to play against teams who are much bigger than us as we struggle to hold our own in scrums and set-pieces.
"But, the players compensated for that with passion and heart, especially in the last ten minutes when we were with a man down.
"Victory keeps us in a good position to avoid bottom place.
"We still have two difficult matches next year, against Poland (home) and Andorra (away), but if we can field our best formation, I'm confident we can reach our goal."
The match turned out to be an abrasive tussle between two teams with contrasting styles of play - Malta's pace against Latvia's physical power.
Ryan Borg put Malta ahead after 11 minutes from a penalty. The Maltese kept up the tempo and on 18 minutes they struck the first try of the match.
From a line-out, two metres out, Harry Collins scrambled through to increase the lead to 8-0. Borg missed the conversion.
Soon, Latvia began to profit from stronger approaches and after a series of rucks and scrums, Leno Bramanis touched the ball over the line for a try (no conversion - HT: 8-5).
At the start of the second half, Borg added to his tally with a second penalty to extend Malta's lead to six points.
Latvia's response was immediate and after a series of continuous rucks they eventually forced a try through Janis Skuja.
Kicker Vitalijs Haleciks scored his first points on the hour, from a penalty, to put the visitors ahead for the first time - 13-11.
But that upset only served to spark Malta's rally. From another scrum on 67 minutes, the ball fell to Borg who kicked it forward and Oliver Sacco outpaced friend and foe to score the hosts' second try of the day (unconverted - 16-13).
Ten minutes from time Mick McArdle was yellow-carded and the Maltese were forced to play the rest of the match with a player less.
The tension was high as conditions deteriorated in the eight minutes of added time when a thunderstorm hit Corradino.
Malta's fort was on the verge of crumbling on more than one occasion but somehow Neill's lads, roared on by the home crowd, survived.
Remaining matches: (Saturday) Latvia vs Andorra. (April 19) Croatia vs Andorra. (April 26) Poland vs Latvia. (May 10) Malta vs Poland; Latvia vs Croatia. (May 17) Andorra vs Malta.
Malta: I. Borda, H. Collins 5, T. Webb, D. Borg, D. Psaila, S. Kempster, M. McArdle, G. Kennedy, J. Finlason, R. Spiteri, N. Warren, D. Busuttil, R. Borg 6, L. Culnane, O. Sacco 5.
Subs used: L. Mifsud, M. Whitney.
Latvia: G. Cirsa, E. Cirulis, J. Skuja 5, U. Saulite, V. Sokolovs, L. Bramanis 5, M. Larionovs, N. Petjunins, K. Andersons, R. Koltlevs, V. Rankis, D. Zavadkis, R. Pepa, K. Berzins, V. Haleckis 3.
Subs used: V. Bagdasarjans, E. Lobanovs, K. Rozentals.
Referee: J. Meersman (Belgium).