Overseas rout Kavallieri

By Mike Turner

OVERSEAS vs   KAVALLIERI  33- 0
In fact Overseas wrapped up the result in the first 20 minutes by running up 19 points with tries from Ledouw, Mumpihaza and Duchange, two conversions by Briffa. The game was lost by the time Kavallieri settled down. There were two yellow card visits to the ten minute sinbin for Douw of Overseas and Corbin of Kavallieri. Kavallieri were brave but disorganised and even when their tight scrum had an advantage they were clumsy and slow, thinking and Overseas were able to defend fairly easily. On the contrary the speedy Overseas backs were always threatening. Stivala at scrum half was a huge influence, despite being a little too relaxed at times, and Briffa’s return added a steady influence at fly half. However he returned to his annoying habit of turning towards the recipient of his passes and taking one or two steps, which concertina’s up his backline, losing two or three metres of vital space for the winger. Overseas added a further converted try to bring the half time score to 26 – 0.
The wind was behind Kavallieri for the second half and they were beginning to work more as a team unit, gaining ground and exerting pressure, but they lacked the final skills to make a score. Susnjara and Horne in the centre, together with Lewis made several penetrating runs and Debierre was a tower of strength throughout.
Zahra was moved into scrum half and improved as the game went on. Full back Blyton was his usual self in mixing excellent moves with horrible mistakes. Darren Edmunds was very influential with his kicking, work rate, and experienced positioning. Overseas backs showed great promise all through the second half but despite the speedy and evasive running by Douw, Duchange, Stivala and others they found it difficult to break down the defence and determination of Kavallieri, and only managed one converted try by Gauci in the second half.
The management also tried to give the whole squad a run out and in the second half there were lots of changes, which can disrupt. Harvey was his usual solid self and by the end his scrum was getting the better of the tight and even won two or three hooks against the head.
For Kavallieri the veterans Miller, Zammit and Doublesin were influential in steadying the discipline and morale – in a match which entertained, despite the errors and sometime loose kicking.
In the other match Stompers 53  vs Gladiators  24.