In a feisty match, played under a scorching sun, Stompers managed to overcome Kavallieri’s stern challenge, succeeding to lift the silverware to make it a double for yet another year, having won the Cisk Lager League as well.

The match did not start on a positive note for Kavallieri, as Jordan Heathley, just back from injury, suffered physical damage in the first minute and had to be replaced with Edmunds. Stompers drew first blood some minutes later, when Betts was given a pass from a central play-move and sprinted towards the tryline to ground the ball with no conversion being made – 5-0.

Stompers continued to pile up the pressure on Kavallieri’s backline, thanks to a flowing forward drive scored by the evergreen Richard Gum. The latter continued to pile misery on Kavallieri by converting his own try and put his team 12-0 ahead.

Although Kavallieri did not manage to create too many goal-scoring opportunities, full back Eduard Toderika pierced Stompers’ strict defence-line after a supporting move by Kavallieri’s pack.

Stompers and Kavallieri continued to exchange fierce forward drives, resulting in two converted tries by Stompers’ Keith Azzopardi and Kavallieri’s Branton Bonello.

Both tries were converted leaving Stompers leading 19-12. 

After a slow start to the second half, both sides played defensive rugby with Stompers catching ground to score two successive tries by Gary Hili and Malcolm Attard to secure a 29-12 win. 

Presentation of medals and trophy followed, with MeDirect Bank representative, Ingrid Micallef, handing the medals to the runners-up and winners, while crowning Stompers as the winners for another year.

Referee: Sean Doublesin, Sam Ramage, Ileana Brown.