This touring party of 51 guys arrived on Friday afternoon, and quickly established themselves in the local hostelries, making friends, imbibing local drinks and enjoying a mezee, and then onto the famous Bar street for the night.
Just a normal start to a tour really !!!.
Saturday arrives and the first match to kick off is the Veterans encounter.
A good size crowd of around 150 enjoying their beers and burgers,have assembled and they get to watch a great match.
These "over 35's" put on quite a spectacular show, making the ball do most of the work and their passing and handling at times sublime
The Tigers Vets eventually run out winners by 50 points to 5, scoring 7 tries, 6 converted and one penalty, and rightly leave the field proud of their achievement.
The 1st XV's then take the field and quickly the Tigers are shaken, not once but twice as Tottonians large well drilled pack make their presence felt and two early tries in the opening 10 minutes, both converted, and only answered by a penalty, takes the visitors into a 14 points to 3 lead. Another penalty to the Tigers narrows the gap a little more 4 minutes later, and it's only on half time that the Tigers score their first try, with front row forward Tony Thoma crashing over.
Conversion is missed so the half time score is now Tottonians 14 ,Tigers 11.
The second half starts with a bang and Tottonians narrowly miss a penalty, but the Tigers answer with guest player Marco Miladenvic breaking through their defence and chipping across for young Tiger winger Danny Humphreys to chase ahead and score near the post.
This is the first time the Tigers are in front at 18-14, but Tottonians are not giving up and attack again putting extreme pressure on the Tigers who first try to run the ball out from under their posts, and then the desperate clearance kick hits their own posts to fall into Tottonians hands and a well deserved try easily converted, now giving the visitors the lead 21 – 18. Two minutes later Tigers level the scores with a penalty, and then over the next 30 minutes, with both sides enjoying end to end rugby, the Tigers get two more penalties tying up the final score as Tigers 27 Tottonians 21.
This was a big game and full marks to both teams in putting on a great match.
Thank you Tottonians for coming to Paphos, we thoroughly enjoyed your friendship and
rugby skills. Safe journey home.
Nigel Jarvis.
PTRFC are sponsored by M1 Lux, Horizon group & Mercato del Golfo.
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