Sliema Stompers win the Mediterranean Bank Cup

The end result came as no surprise with Stompers being the favourites after their league success. Only just a few minutes into the game, Stompers gathered their first 3 points after Malcolm Attard slotted a penalty kick which was given for Overseas failing to roll away.

Overseas had the opportunity improve their score when they were awarded a penalty for not releasing but, they failed to convert it. It was Stompers who dominated throughout most of the game with several attacks from their lineouts and scrums where Overseas were forced to direct their energies into defending. This they managed until the 28th minute, when Stompers managed to break through the defence to score the game's first try. It was team captain Sam Borg who scored the try after receiving a pass from John Ellul to increase the score to 8-0.

Overseas managed to score their first try moments later after being awarded two penalties with Vince Stivala taking the quick tap penalty, passing quickly to Neil West who was the one to score the try. After halftime, Stompers returned as the dominating team once more with Andrew Camilleri scoring down the left side after receiving the ball off the back of a maul. Despite having the upper-hand, Stompers lost their concentration moments later by giving away several penalties making it easy for Overseas to shift onto the attack.

Even with Overseas taking over, they still managed to throw away their chance of scoring a second try by knocking- on from a close-range penalty.Then, the misfortune of Cassar going off injured seemed to dampen their chances of them improving their score. Stompers were quick enough to take advantage of the situation by launching into three powerful attacks with the last leading to a try by Meintjes who broke through to score from a 5 metre scrum.

Overseas managed to score their second try of the game after Stompers had a series of bad passing where Thompson kicked through a loose ball and followed up to score an opportunistic try. Stompers however made up for their moments of bad play by scoring the last try of the game. Attard made a break through down the left wing with Borg passing to Meintjes who scored his second try of the day to close off the game with the final score of 28-10.

Sliema Stompers last won this honour in the 2009/10 season. They have twice since then reached the final against Overseas to lose and place second due to youthful inexperience and injury crises. This weekend however, Sliema Stompers proved to have come far as they ended their season by lifting the Mediterranean Cup to the cheering crowd despite being currently coachless and with three of their more experienced players in Luke Debattista, Matt von Brockdorff and Matt Mirabelli absent because of injuries and work commitments respectively.

Referee - Lionel Da Silva

Man of the match – Sam Borg