MALTA MARAUDERS VETERANS RUGBY TEAM: April 2008

MARAUDERS SHARE TITLE IN MALTA VETS TOURNAMENT

Malta Marauders ended the Malta Vets Tournament as joint winners, sharing the trophy with Havant Vets.
In their first game of the tri - tournament, Marauders ran out 15 - 5 winners against Brentwood RFC.
Havant also beat Brentwood, setting up a final with Marauders which duly ended up 10 - 10. With both teams too exhausted to play extra time in the sweltering Malta sunshine, the honours were declared even. Marauders sportingly let Havant take home the cup so that they had something to show off when they returned home

Monday, April 21, 2008

Marauders go down fighting against Reading Rhinos

Malta Marauders narrowly lost their opening game of the veterans season 22-17 against Reading Rhinos, the top veterans team in England.

After Reading had comprehensively beaten Stompers in their first tour game on Friday, there was a fear in the doubters camp that Marauders would get blown away by such formidable opposition.

However, against all odds, they produced a fearless display of gutsy and innovative rugby, to keep the score down to within one try and, with a bit more luck with the run of play, could well have run out winners.

In an all-round team performance such as this, it is always difficult to single out individuals.

However, special mention should go to Paul Mangion, making his first appearance for Marauders, together with exceptional performances from Reuben Lanfranco, Simon Vincenti and Brian Miller.

Leo Mifsud (1) and the valid Greg Van Reeven (2) scored the Marauders tries.

Club president Phil Gibbs remarked that even though Marauders had finally lost their three-year unbeaten record on Maltese soil, it was no disgrace to eventually succumb to the best veterans team in England.

The next Marauders games are against Mad Dogs Veterans (tomorrow) and Northampton Men's Own on April 27.

PRESS REPORT Marauders v Bristol Telephones RFC - April 2007

Marauders 41 vs Bristol Telephones 5.

Malta Marauders, the Veterans and invitation team, extended their unbeaten run since foundation with another resounding win against tourists from England, Bristol Telephones.
The heavyweight Bristol boys were no match for the sparkling Marauders backs, ably supported by a surprisingly mobile pack. Veterans Caruana and Cilia ( the Physio for the National Team and an ex-international himself), were outstanding in their fast support work, both scoring good tries. Fly half Duffy opened with two tries after typical evasive running and Jackson added a third, converted by Rickard. Duffy then timed a pass to Van Reeven who broke the cover with a powerful hand-off to score, converted by Jackson to give Marauders a 22-0 lead at half time.
The good work continued with Jones, Vincenti, Mifsud and Goodwin standing up to heavyweight pressure and winning good ball and Overseas newcomer Ives looked promising.
Marauders tackling was up to stopping any promising attacks, and when Nichols put in a long kick for Bristol, full back Rickards took it well and ran it back at them. It was passed across the backs to Van Reeven who offloaded to the supporting Caruana to run in a good try, converted by Rickard. Next Duffy broke from the back, weaving out to find his wing in support and Williams ran in another try.
Vincenti was sin binned, and with a numerical advantage, scrum half Buck made a strong break to score a try for Bristol. Marauders replied when Ives put Cilia away for a strong run in for the final try, converted by Rickard.

Mike Turner. 23.04.07.

MATCH REPORT - Malta Marauders 15, Paris Globetrotters 10

The Malta Marauders Veterans Rugby Team notched up another win down at Marsa this evening, against The Paris Globetrotters Veteran's Team. We didn't touch their trotters, but we pulled their legs off and won 15-10. The crowd got an eyeful of running rugby from both teams, with no kicking outside the 22, but sadly, uncontested scrums.
The Frogs came out of the pond, with a mean look in their eyes and took the game to us, we had trouble getting our hands on the ball, almost as if someone had told us, "Don't touch it, or you'll get a case of warts". They had names like Pierre, Enri, Jean Paul, Dominic and going by the scar tissue on their faces, it looked as if they had played a bit before. When they scored their first try, after only a few minutes they must have thought they were in for a waltz down Champs Elysee. But us old fellas always take a bit of time to shake out the cobwebs, get those arthritic joints moving and figure out which way the wind is blowing and what the gradient is on our side of the field, so we can use a bit of gravity. We gave the ball to that young boy, Leo Mifsud and let him dance his way downfield and score under the posts. They were a little pissed off and wouldn't let us take the kick at goal, so we abolished conversions and penalty kicks as well. They got a head of steam up in their pack and drove a maul over for a try, which we applauded to give them a bit of encouragement(that's a French word by the way!) Simon Mizzi grabbed hold of the ball at a penalty and forced his way over.A few "Sacre Bleus!" were heard from the stand and the French supporters started popping beer cans to drown their sorrows. We had a new boy, Dave on the wing who showed a bit of promise, he'd tiptoed down the line once and almost scored, so impressive it was, we thought he must have worked in the circus on the high wire. Later, he did score in the corner, to win the game for us, so quick he was, that some of the French were asking to see his birth certificate after the game.
We retired back to O'Kelly's in Gzira (you know the bar, it used be the 19 Steps, then The Pink Cadillac, the Gay bar). Anyway the French came in happy and gay after they had all gone back for a shower and a shave. We all started feeling a bit inferior when we saw them and had to sniff under our armpits, just to check we weren't too ripe. When we had heard we were going down to the ex-gay bar, most of us didn't want to shower, just in case someone had the wrong idea about us. O'Kelly's served up some great nosh of snails ( I don't like fast food, I prefer snails!) and Chicken legs(we tried to pass them off as Frog's legs,but the French wouldn't wear it). Rugby is a great game really, here we were trying to knock each other silly for a good hour, then the next minute we are all patting each other on the back and buying beers for everyone. We awarded them a shield, I think it was made of Plaster of Paris and they gave Phil their club T-Shirt, apparently we are all going to get turns to wear it. "Long Live the Vets!"

Brian Corlett 26.5.2006 (edited)

PRESS REPORT. MALTA VETERANS COMPETITION - April 2006

Malta Veterans Competition

The "Round Robin" veterans competition between Leicester Forest, Tetbury and Malta Marauders ended in a three way tie, each side winning one match and losing one. Leicester Forest 30 vs Tetbury 29, Malta Marauders 29 vs Leicester Forest 20, then Tetbury finally beat an exhausted Marauders, many of whom had also been playing in the Sevens tournament. Unfortunately Tetbury had stretched the rules and had played some young and very fast backs instead of the over 35 year olds who qualify for this type of match. Still a good time was had by all after the games were over

MARAUDERS TAKE FRENCH LEAVE

Malta Marauders, the only Veterans rugby team in Malta, have announced a 20 – man squad for the Paris Veterans Rugby tournament being held during the World Cup on September 15th and 16th. Marauders, who are unbeaten in Veterans matches since their formation in 2003, will be hoping to extend that record when they take on several French teams on home soil.
The tournament has been organised by the Paris Globetrotters Veterans team, who toured Malta in April 2006, and were looked after so well during their stay that they invited the Marauders back to Paris to repay the compliment. Rene Cazetien, the Paris Globetrotters captain said ‘Our tour to Malta was excellent and we made so many new friends. Now we are waiting to welcome our old friends in Paris’
Their game against Marauders during the 2006 visit was a thriller that ‘went down to the wire’, with the Maltese team coming out triumphant 15-10 winners. Marauders team captain Phil Gibbs said “I know the Globetrotters will be looking to avenge that defeat. We’re in for a tough game. However, apart from wanting to extend our unbeaten record, one of the tournament prizes is a hectolitre of wine, so that should also motivate us!’ The squad leaves on the 13th September, and held a pre-tour dinner last week at the Step Down bar, Sliema, during which Ivan Bartolo, the MD of 6pm, the Marauders official sponsor, presented the team with their tour playing kit.

MALTA MARAUDERS VETERANS RUGBY TEAM

Marauders team - Prague Tour 09

MARAUDERS SHARE TITLE IN MALTA VETS TOURNAMENT

One of our 2009-10 sponsors

Monday, April 21, 2008

Marauders go down fighting against Reading Rhinos

Friday, April 18, 2008

Marauders go down fighting

Want to tour in Malta and play the Marauders?

PRESS REPORT Marauders v Bristol Telephones RFC - April 2007

MARAUDERS OLDEST PLAYER

MATCH REPORT - Malta Marauders 15, Paris Globetrotters 10

CAPTAINS UNITE!

PRESS REPORT. MALTA VETERANS COMPETITION - April 2006

PARIS GLOBETROTTERS ON TOUR IN MALTA. 2006

MARAUDERS V OLD ASHTONIANS

Marauders to tour in Paris

MARAUDERS ANNOUNCE NEW SPONSORS FOR 2009-10

MARAUDERS TAKE FRENCH LEAVE

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