Malta’s MRL Dove Men+Care Championship has entered its summer break, with reigning premiers Sliema RL undefeated after three rounds before regular temperatures in the mid-30’s swamp the islands.
Sliema have only been tested for short periods in their opening contests, Gozo holding them to a two-point lead after 30 minutes of play in their match last Wednesday night at Pembroke, but it was Malta Origin RL’s clash with Birkirkara RL that got tongues wagging.
The match was filled with big hits, bruising defence, skillful rugby league tries, only about four handling errors during 80 minutes of simmering heat, and even the odd tempers flared to keep the match ignited until the full time whistle.
Malta Origin came from behind for a 26-24 victory, their Mascot Jets recruit from Sydney David Farrugia, crossing for two tries to go atop the try scorers and point scorers standings after three rounds.
This season’s newly introduced fixtures system means that 1st will play 2nd and 3rd will play 4th when round four resumes in September, the same format will be kept for round five meaning the same teams may meet twice in successive weeks before the Grand Final between the top two the following week.
Round three of the Maltese championship also saw the week transformed into a Pink Week with captains and match officials wearing pink armbands, special guests meeting all the teams before kick off, the MRL’s website and social media pages going pink for the occasion and a charity rugby league match played in the presence of Irish Ambassador to Malta Mr Jim Hennessy.
With the local championship breaking for the summer, Malta coach Anthony Micallef and caretaker coach/national team captain Chris Parker are now finalizing their Malta XIII squad for their upcoming test against the British Army’s 1 MERCIAN RL on Monday 8 July in Malta. Three days earlier, a Gozo Invitational gives 1 MERCIAN its first test on Gozitan soil.
To watch highlights of the charity rugby league match, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llGQydgVzuE.
For more information about Maltese Rugby League, go to www.malteserugbyleague.com or like www.facebook.com/maltaRL.
2013 MRL Dove Men+Care Championship Round 3 Results
Malta Origin RL 26 (D.Farrugia 2, O.McDermott-Long, D.Edmunds, S.Keep tries; D.Farrugia 3/4, D.Edmunds 0/1, goals) defeated
Birkirkara RL 24 (C.Agius, P.Debono, J.Rafferty, T.Freeman tries; C.Briffa 4/4 goals)
Ref: Mr A.Micallef
H-T: Malta Origin RL 16-6
Players of the Match: Darren Edmunds (Malta Origin) and Dylan Frendo (Birkirkara)
Sliema RL 64 (D.Cerketa 3, G.Zammit 3, Matthew Spiteri, V.Leondiev, M.Camilleri, J.Caruana, Nicky Maylor tries; O.Jones 10/10, J.Caruana 0/1 goals) defeated
Gozo RL 32 (O.McDermott-Long 3, C.Debattista 2, S.Keep tries; S.Keep 2/3, O.McDermott-Long 2/3 goals)
Ref: Mr A.Micallef
H-T: Sliema RL 30-22
Players of the Match: Dragan Cerketa (Sliema) and Clifford Debattista (Gozo)
2013 MRL Dove Men+Care Championship Standings (after 3 rounds)
Sliema RL - 6pts, 3 wins, +92
Malta Origin RL - 4pts, 2 wins, 1 loss, -20
Birkirkara RL - 2pts, 1 win, 2 losses, -4
Gozo RL - 0pts, 3 losses, -68
2013 Top Tryscorers
D.Farrugia (Malta Origin RL/Gozo RL) - 7
D.Cerketa (Sliema RL) – 5
G.Zammit (Sliema RL) – 5
J.Caruana (Sliema RL) – 4
2013 Top Pointscorers
D.Farrugia (Malta Origin RL/Gozo RL) - 44pts, 7 tries, 8 goals
C.Briffa (Birkirkara RL) - 28pts, 3 tries, 8 goals
D.Cerketa (Sliema RL) - 20pts, 5 tries
G.Zammit (Sliema RL) - 20pts, 5 tries