Six-try Malta hammer Slovenia in Ljubljana

SLOVENIA        14

MALTA              42

The Malta rugby national team enjoyed an impressive start to their FIRA-AER Conference South One commitments when they thrashed Slovenia in Ljubljana.

Damien Neill’s men were a cut above their opponents who were making their first appearance in this division after winning promotion last season.

The Malta coach named four new players in his travelling squad, who all ply their trade in the Maltese league. These were Falcons RFC duo Martin Barbara and Liam Scicluna, Matt Stoker, of Overseas and Stompers’ Jon Micallef.

The Maltese players took the game by the scruff off their neck right from their outset as their superior power in the pack and the pace on the flanks made life difficult for the Slovenians.

In fact, Neill’s men took only three minutes to take the lead when Harry Collins concluded a fine move to score the first try of the match. James O’Brien made no mistake from the conversion to put his team 7-0 ahead.

The Slovenians were struggling to contain Malta’s power in the scrum and it was no surprise that  in the tenth minute, the visitors made the most of this weapon to score their second try of the match.

Darren Deguara held the...