Saturday, 7th November 2009 - 18:19CET
Malta beats Sweden in rugby thriller
Malta 25
Sweden 23
A last-gasp penalty conversion by James O'Brien handed Malta a victory over Sweden in a thrilling encounter played in front of a packed crowd at the Hibs Ground this afternoon.
Damien Neill's men had looked well on their way to a crucial victory when man-of-the-match O'Brien scored two tries to put Malta 22-18 ahead with only 10 minutes ahead. However, the Swedes launched a stirring fightback and English-born Andrew Daish looked to have broken Malta's hopes when he put the Swedes one point ahead with only one minute to play.
However, backed by a vociferous and colourful crowd, the Maltese again showed their tenacious qualities as they kept pushing forward and their efforts were finally rewarded with O'Brien's penalty conversion that handed Malta their first home victory in this season's Division 2B and more importantly secured the team's place in the division for another two seasons.
O'Brien, who plays his club rugby with Waterloo, in the UK, was the game's top scorer with 15 points while Lee Culnane and Paul Marzella scored Malta's other tries yesterday.
Malta: I. Borda, H. Collins, P. Bradley, L. Watts, D. Psaila, M. Bonavia, J. Howlands, R. Bonavia, M. Mirabelli, R. Spiteri, L. Culnane 5, D. Busuttil, P. Marzella 5, J. O'Brien 15. Subs used: T. Pace Moore, J. Finlason.
Sweden: M. Macdonald, J.O. Johansson, M. Thorhard, I. Bengtsson, v. Pettersson, A. Letele, A. Daish 5, S. Taylor, L. Sandberg, T. Ardvisson 5, S. Tegunimataka, P. Mathews 5, A. Taylor, J. Borg, T. Johansson 8. Subs used: F. Cassalhag, P. Sullivan, P. Wiklund, R. Ormberg. Referee: Peter Hoffman (Portugal).
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Ghal Aktar informazzjoni fuq r-Rugby morru fis-Sit: www.maltarugby.com
Ghat-Table, Result u Fixutures morru hawn: http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com /competition_detail.php?compet=127&gpement=1205
u r-rankings: http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html
"once in a blue moon...just got lucky this time....the next time they win will be in a hundred years"
int bis-serjeta jew??? T-Team tar-Rugby Malti dejjem unur u b'rebhiet konvincenti (Home u Away) sfortunatament hawn Malta Football biss jezisti nahseb!! jien kull tip ta sports inhobb.
Ghal minn qed jejd kontra dan t-team ghalija mhux Malti veru...ghax dan l-uniku team (u tas-snooker ukoll) li gabina success hawn Malta. Ahna qedin 54th position mir-ranking kollu tad-Dinja li tqis sa tlett snin ijlu konna ghadna 98th...TAJJEB HAFNA nejd jien. jekk nerbhu z-zewg loghbiet li gejjien hemm nistu nitilu fit-tieni jew l-ewwel post ghax bhalissa qedin t-3 minn hames timijiet f'din d-division 2B.
Nispera li xi darba nimatturaw naqa mhux dejjem inmaqdru jew inparla minghajr ma inkunu nafu x'qed nejdu! MaltaRugby komplu fuq l-passi li mixjin u ghamlu aktar pressjoni ha ikollna stadium nazzjonali.
It seems that you have no idea on what island you are living.
Since you seem to have Malta in your heath please visit the MRFU website and take a look at the results! Now after doing so please visit the MFA website and look at the results… Basically they speak by them self.
If it was soccer then yes.. I agree 100% with you. The next win will be in the next century.
These gentlemen are the pride of Malta, well done to the players, MRFU, team manager.
You gave us supporters something to smile about. Other sports where thousands of Euros are splashed just leave sour grapes into our taste while RUGBY is talking facts and making noise however it seems that the authorities are BLIND , DEAF AND DEATH because until TODAY because until now our Rugby teams are still with no proper pitch where to play.
Back to the below issue C.Fenech.. Hmmm I am not a football guru so apologize for my ignorance but INWOKO for me DOES NOT SOUND or EVEN LOOK MALTESE… I think I made my point THANKS.
"Rest assured that the selection of players for the Malta National Rugby team is not taken lightly and is done within the Laws of the game."
I never said its taken lightly.
"While your ignorance of the game might be excusable, your lack of National pride is not."
Lack of National pride because I was expecting proper Maltese in the lineup? Its the other way round my friend.
"There is more Maltese blood in this National team than there will ever be in your heart."
Yes great, lets get out of this with personal insults. Awesome.
Ahjar tejdu x'arukazza tim malti li qed jaghmel success bhal dan ghadu ma giex offruf ground nazzjonali xieraq. Rugby Malta haqqom grawd li jessa daqs tal-Hibs ghax s-sibt kien mimli kollu rega u ikun taghom biss mhux ma tim tal-football jew b'xi klawzola li hija kontrijom!!
Prosit kbira lil dan t-tim li jien ijli nissaportom xi 8 snin issa zgur u dejjem tawni soddisfazzjoni ghax b'avvanz kbir li ghamilna fir-rugby huwa veru importanti. prosit ukoll lis-south end core u supporters kollha li gew l-ground ghax konna l-player zejjed gol-grawd u bis-sahha tar-rebha u l-ferh u l-ghajnuna li tajna lil players, ergajna urejna li Ahna KBURIN li AHNA MALTIN!!!
Rest assured that the selection of players for the Malta National Rugby team is not taken lightly and is done within the Laws of the game.
It is a shame that after such a wonderful sporting display by a team representing your country you choose to be so negative. While your ignorance of the game might be excusable, your lack of National pride is not. I have seen these players dedicate their free time to representing Malta, put their body on the line and suffer on a regular basis for years now and they show a commitment to the cause far greater than you.
There is more Maltese blood in this National team than there will ever be in your heart.
I suggest you find the courage to come to the next home game and meet these players and maybe, only maybe you will become one of the lucky MALTESE to experience the passion and the satisfaction that this team has given us over the years.
Thank you to all you wonderful supporters!
Well exactly, they play for Malta because rugby rules allow it, not because they are Maltese. What will happen in a few years when sons of sons of sons of Maltese descendants won't be eligible to play any more (unless this can go on forever)? There will be no more pseudo-Maltese to play for the National Maltese Rugby team any more.... what will happen then?
Don't get me wrong, I wash the Maltese Rugby Team all the luck, but I am not fooling myself into thinking that the people out on the pitch are representing our nation.
As for your comment on Maltese football, I care about it even less than rugby :)
Obviously you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. They are descendants of Maltese emigrants, and according to Rugby rules (which I'm sure you wouldn't distinguish from horseracing or curling) are eligible to play in the Maltese National team. They are in fact professional players back in their country.