12
36

Half-time
Malta: 12
Turkiye: 12

Tries
Malta:
  • Dean Zammit (29),
  • Robin Cutajar (33)
Turkiye:
  • Oğuzhan Demir (2),
  • Ozan Işik (12),
  • Doruk Çeliktutan (42),
  • Behzad Bayram (46),
  • Batuhan Balçin (52),
  • Mert Tayyar Berktav (63),
  • Oğuzhan Tirendez (79)

Goals
Malta:
  • Zarrin Galea (2/2)
Turkiye:
  • Behzad Bayram (4/7)

Teams
Malta:
  • Mark Camilleri,
  • James Grech,
  • Christian Briffa,
  • Cameron Brown,
  • Jean-Pierre Zarb,
  • Karl Cassar,
  • Zarrin Galea,
  • Jeremy Dela,
  • Robin Cutajar,
  • Dean Zammit,
  • Alfie Jewitt,
  • Russell Bugeja,
  • Justin Barlogio.
  • Subs: Justin Farrugia
Turkiye:
  • Miraç Ertürk,
  • Can Günersu,
  • Eren Kemal Şen,
  • Errol Carter,
  • Batuhan Balçin,
  • Ozan Işik,
  • Behzad Bayram,
  • Alperen Kademli,
  • Oğuzhan Demir,
  • Çağas Çiçek,
  • Oğuzhan Tirendez,
  • Mert Tayyar Berktav,
  • Doruk Çeliktutan.
  • Subs: Ahmet Tarik Tekin,
  • Kemal Ege Gürkan,
  • Yusuf Can Tunç,
  • Ömer Faruk Pir

Match report

In the match for third place and world ranking points, hosts Turkey were too strong in the second half for Malta, winning 36-12, in 27 degree heat and in front of a partisan crowd that included professional Aiden Sezer, part of the Turkish staff, who flew in for the game.

The sides were level at the break, but with no available substitutes Malta struggled to contain the home pack in the second period. Turkey posted seven tries, all from different scorers, scrum half Behzad Bayram finishing with 12 points and Kadiköy Bulls’ Doruk Çeliktutan, returning from an early sinbinning, breaking the deadlock after the interval.

Julien Treu, Turkey head coach commented: “We are very happy with the result. We had to refocus after the loss to the Netherlands on Thursday and we had the right attitude to finish this tournament on a good, positive note. We want more international games, we showed that we can host and we want to reach a higher level soon, the guys are keen and we have a strong team on and off the pitch.”

Excellent prop Dean Zammit collected Zarrin Galea’s kick for Malta’s first score on the half hour, hooker Robin Cutajar following him over four minutes later in a spirited overall effort.

“I cannot fault the efforts of our players,” Malta head coach Roderick Attard noted. “We had guys who were injured playing the full 80 minutes, they gave their all and it was not a walk in the park for the Turks so I am proud of them.”