Try doubles for Harrison Jewitt, and half backs Josh Gatt and Karl Cassar saw Malta retain the Medieval Shield for the fifth time, with a convincing 42-0 victory over Italy in Bagarnia Arsa in a men’s senior international for world ranking points.
Teenage winger Harrison Jewitt from Castleford’s academy stood out on the wing including a long-range effort from his own half, but that was topped by fullback Zarrin Galea who went from deep behind his own line and evaded half of the Italian cover to the opposite tryline for the try of the match.
Malta were 20-0 ahead at the break, outgoing men’s head coach Philip Humphrey commenting: “The boys have exceeded expectations, they make me very proud. We were very happy with the first half performance into the wind, but the team gave its word at half time to defend the Italians to zero, and they kept to it.”
ITALY 0
Samule Bertolini, Lorenzo Sosta, Emiliano Buraschi, Omar Lai, Francesco Vallone, Simone Boscolo, Alessandro Corte, Liam Signorini, Ippolito Occhialini, Davide Colla, Giona Toffoletti, Francesco Speggiorn, Mattia Saoncella
Interchanges: Marco Forno, Nicola Gannato, Stefano Godoleshi, Giacomo Civino
Sin Bin: Colla (23 – striking)
MALTA 42
Zarrin Galea, Harrison Jewitt, Alfie Jewitt, Jon Micaleff, Kyle Gauci, Josh Gatt, Karl Cassar, Jean-Pierre Zarb, Robin Cutajar, Josh Cassar, Justin Davenport, Zac Vella, Kaine Dimech
Interchanges: Shaun Chircop, William Watts, Nicky Maylor, Dean Zammit.
Tries: H. Jewitt 2, Gatt 2, K. Cassar 2, Gauci, Galea
Goals: Gauci 4/7, Galea 1/1
Half Time: 0-20
Referee: Ciprian Gajulete (Italy)
