Falcons structure outlasts Kavallieri’s passion
OVERSEAS 36
STOMPERS 33
Overseas came out of the blocks and after one minute had worked their first try, surprising Stompers before they had settled.
A rolling maul went infield and Wedja carried it forward with the ball going into the hands of Kai Botha and he blitzed his way to the line to score. Banks converted – 7-0.
Again, Overseas attacked, Herman Jordaan ran it back from fullback and passed on to Jacob Reid who grubbered through into the corner with the ball bouncing kindly for Pierre Wedja who ran around to score under the posts.
Michael Banks kicked the conversion and a shell-shocked Stompers team trudged back to the halfway with the score at 14-0 with four minutes on the clock.
Played flowed back and forth for a time and finally Stompers worked the ball into Overseas’ 22 and an angled run by Gruyer took him over the line and converted his own try to make it 14-7.
They traded tries through until half-time, Kevin Hernandez scoring for Overseas, and then two quick tries for Stompers by Mathew Alexander and another by Gruyer, with just one converted, took the score to 19-all as Stompers started to find their game.
But back came Overseas with again Botha showing his speed from a standing start weaving his way to the line to leave Overseas 26-19 ahead.
The second half it was again to and fro, Overseas scored a try by Jordaan, converted by Banks, to move 33-19 ahead.
But a penalty try and a yellow card gave Stompers some ascendancy with Richard Gum crashing over under the posts from a short pass and the conversion by Gruyer bringing the teams level at 33-all.
Jon Jon Micallef saved his team with the turnover ball as Overseas surged forward.
The play went up and down the field, Overseas missed a penalty from 25 metres out but Banks nailed the next one to take the honours in this pulsating game.
Referee: Mauro Micelli.
Men of the Match: Overseas: Herman Jordaan; Stompers: Clement Gruyer.
FALCONS 22
KAVALLIERI 5
In the second game of the day, Falcons finally wore down a passionate Kavallieri team to win 22-5.
It was another game that flowed up and down the pitch, with Kavallieri holding the edge in the first half after David Namusasi(8) had run from 30 metres to score after a patient build-up by the men in black, with their forwards lead by Joe Cutajar and Branton Bonello.
In the second half, the Falcons began to stretch Kavallieri from side to side with their ball carriers, Liam Scicluna and Thibaud Bouchiex, carrying powerfully. Leymarie kicked a penalty to finally open their scoring – 5-3.
Then two tries by Bouchiex, crashing over under the posts after some phase play, and then running wide down the touchline from 25 metres out to go over in the corner, with Leymarie converting both to put the Falcons 17-5 ahead.
Falcons finished the game with another try to the free running Kyle Gauci to wrap up a comfortable victory.
Referee: Sam Ramage.
Men of the Match: Falcons – Thibaud Bouchiex. Kavallieri – Branton Bonello.
