MARAUDERS SAVAGED BY MAD DOGS

Malta Marauders Veterans rugby team lost their second game of the touring season 38-0 to Mad Dogs RFC, a touring team drawn from four top London sides.
It was clear from the outset that Mad Dogs were in no mood for a sociable contest, and adopted a win – at – all costs approach from the kick-off. A series of late hits and general skulduggery on the blind side of the referee by them throughout the game marred what was billed as a ‘friendly’. They were fit, well –organised and played to their strength, namely the rolling maul, and Marauders lack of match practice as a unit was soon exposed in the set pieces, particularly at the line-out, where they were missing three key players through injury. Their backs were also lacking their usual cutting edge, and were not helped by having to play off the back foot for most of the game. A series of unforced errors in both the backs and forwards allowed Mad Dogs to turn over possession and score three tries in the first half, two of them converted. After the break, Marauders forwards started to play with more cohesion, and began to win clean ball in the scrums, which kept their try line safe for 20 minutes. Unfortunately the backs were unable to make inroads into the visitors’ watertight defensive line. In the last quarter, injuries started to take their toll on the home side, and Mad Dogs, who had the pick of 20 extra players as substitutes, ran in two further tries, and were awarded a penalty try, all of which were converted.
Man – of –the match for Marauders was Charlie Sammut, with Roland Stevenson running him close, and Phil Felice also had a solid performance up front. Referee – Brian Corlett