20th March 2010. Paphos Tigers 29 Episkopi 10.
On a hot and sunny but breezy day this match commenced, and the good size crowd, enhanced by the Blair Gowrie kilted touring team, were ready to watch a spectacle.
These two well drilled sides were soon going to head to head and in the opening 10 minutes numerous scrums were held with neither side getting any upper hand, and it was 15 minutes before any score, when Episkopi got a penalty under the Tiger posts for offside, taking the lead to 3 – 0.
This seemed to be the wake up call the Tigers needed and they pressed numerous attacks to be awarded a penalty which George Agathocleous took to level the scores at 3 – 3.
The game proceeded end to end with both sides frustrating the other's challenges, and three times the Tigers were denied tries with full back Jack Bilton tackled just short of the line and prop Tony Thoma held up as he tried to ground the ball from a rolling ruck, and also a last moment forward pass with the line open, but the score line stayed at 3 – 3 at half time.
The second half restarted and within 5 minutes the Tigers took the lead, in winning a good line out ball, along the line to Captain Matt Lowe who dummied through the Episkopi defence to pass to George Agathocleous to score under the posts, who duly converted as well taking the Tigers to 10-3 points lead.
The Episkopi fly half then got sent off and red carded for foul play, reducing their number to 14, and quickly the Tigers took advantage of this and Matt Lowe grubbed kick through for Fidias Efthymiou to pick up and sprint 60 metres to score near the posts, yet again converted by Agathocleous. Score now Tigers 17 Episkopi 3.
Episkopi threw everything at the Tigers to try and get back into the game but some serious dogged defence by the Tigers repelled all attempts, and 30 minutes into the second half 3 scrums on the Episkopi 5 metres eventually paid off when birthday boy Gazza Thomson picked up a loose ball and crashed over the line in the corner, taking the Tigers up to 22 – 3, and 10 minutes to go. Another try and conversion by George Agathocleous took the Tigers up to 29-3, but Episkopi were not dead and raised their game and made one last effort and scored under the posts, making the final score Tigers 29 Episkopi 10.The Tigers are now into the second round of the Joint Services Cup.
The Blair Gowrie touring team were too young and too good for the Tiger Veterans but a good humored and friendly match was played in the true spirit of the game, and they ran out worthy 48 points to 7 winners, and went off to sample some more "spirits" after.
Nigel Jarvis PTRFC Sponsored by M1 Lux, Horizon Group & Mercato del Golfo.
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