Cutajar makes the difference

KavallieriFalcons 38 22

This thrilling match was the final round of the “Round Robin” part of the Mediterranean Bank Cup, to decide which of the teams would oppose the leaders, Stompers, in the knock out.

It was a good example of the rising standards of rugby in Malta, with so many young players coming through.

Falcons led the charge from the kick off, their penetrating individual charges and accurate kicks putting the Kavallieri line in danger, but the defence held out and Kavallieri line out drives enabled them to turn defence into attack, with the wind`s support.

However Falcons’ drive and offload style was paying off when a dropped pass was pounced on by Kavallieri’s Bugeja who outran Kawara for a good 60 metres to score under the posts, rather against the run of play, converted by Cutajar.

The speed of the Kavallieri backs, Dalton, Imbroll and Bugeja made them a constant threat. Kavallieri broke well from a series of loose mauls, then passed well to stretch Falcons’ cover and Bugeja had the speed to score again, Cutajar converting from wide.

Falcons Chritien earned a yellow card and ten minutes in the sinbin for a deliberate knock on and Kavallieri took full advantage of the extra man for big Sam Zammit to barge forward and put Cutajar in for another try, which he again converted and Kavallieri were running away.

A little luck came Kavalleri`s way when a chip kick bounced off a player into the eager arms of Imbroll, whose quick reaction and blistering speed enabled him to score by the posts, giving Cutajar an easy conversion, and Kavallieri a commanding lead, 28 - 0.

Just before half time, Falcons showed their spirit by launching attacks led by the prop with a brain, Dan Holliday, where Borg was stopped by a superb corner flag tackle by J-P Zammit to prevent a try.

However Falcons had suddenly found a higher gear and after a series of bursts finally registered on the scoreboard with a try by Andre Galea.

Sadly Azzopardi failed to convert and the half time score was Kavallieri 28, Falcons 5. If only the rather tubby Falcons were able to get around the field to be more supportive.

Falcons started the second half with the same resolve as they had finished the first and with the dropping wind at their back pressed hard until Borg scored another try to claw back to 28-10, again no conversion for extra two points.

Kavallieri scrum were pushing Falcons back until prop Zahra was yellow carded and Falcons dominated the tight scrums in his absence.

They laid siege to the Kavallieri line until Holliday powered along the line and transferred to Scicluna who burrowed over for another try.

By now, the Kavallieri lead looked under threat. An excellent individual break by Falcons was halted by a try stopping tackle by Kavallieri’s Horne.

A big Kavallieri clearing kick was mishandled by Kawara and then further mishandling by Falcons back gave the initiative back to Kavallieri, but Falcons worked their way back to attack. Holliday kicked a penalty to the corner and Falcons were really on top, despite the gallant tackling by Kavallieri.

Inevitably the pressure told and with ten minutes to go, Falcons’ Vella scored, this time Holliday converted and there were only six points in it, with Kavallieri appearing to panic under pressure.

However they worked that attack was the best defence and proceeded to exert their own territorial pressure as Falcons’ eagerness led to a little wild passing and thinking.

In the final minutes, Kavallieri’s Vassallo earned a yellow card for an illegal headlock, but Falcons fell just short of achieving an amazing comeback from being 28 points down. The difference at the end, with both sides scoring four tries, was the pin point accuracy of the kicking of Cutajar.

Men of the match: Kavallieri – Cutajar, Falcons – Holliday.

The Med Bank Cup semi- final line-up is: Stompers-Kavallieri and Overseas-Falcons, but after the results so far this season, any one of the four could win.