Paphos Tigers v Limassol Crusaders
Saturday 2nd December 2006
Kick Off 14.30 at Limassol

Paphos kicked off and Limassol immediately knocked on near their 10m line. Paphos got a slow heel and handled poorly but the referee had already given a penalty against Limassol for bringing down the scrum. Paphos found touch 5 m from the Limassol line. From the line out Paphos got quick ball and started a promising handling move. A good defensive tackle broke down the move and Paphos knocked on. Paphos stole the ball at the scrum but some scrappy handling led to a scrum on the Limassol 10m line in the centre of the field. Paphos won the scrum and moved the ball across the line. At the breakdown Paphos were caught off-side and Limassol found touch on the Paphos 22. Limassol threw in a crooked ball to the line but still turned the scrum and stole the ball.

However, a powerful push by the Paphos pack spoiled the Limassol effort and the ball went loose. Paphos retrieved the ball and attempted to run back at the Limassol defence. Limassol defended stoutly and at a breakdown Paphos were caught off-side. Limassol failed to find touch and Paphos again ran the ball at Limassol. The move ended in the Limassol right corner with Paphos just failing to get over the line. Paphos were awarded a penalty for Limassol off-side and Paphos elected to take the scrum. A good but slow heel forced Dimitri Maratheftis to go for a blind side break. A ruck formed and Paphos were adjudged off-side. Limassol found touch 15 m out and knocked on at the line out. Paphos won quick ball from the scrum and fed the ball to Sean Smith. He made a neat break at pace and ran through the Limassol defence to score under the posts on ten minutes. The conversion by Guy Higgs was good. (7-0)

Limassol re-started by kicking directly to touch. Paphos elected a scrum back. A slow Paphos heel was stolen by the Limassol scrum half but Limassol were penalised.  Paphos took a quick penalty and Sean Smith made another devastating break through the Limassol defence to score half way out on 12 minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful. (12-0).

Limassol found touch from the re-start on the Paphos 22. Limassol knocked on at the line and Paphos got a clean heel at the scrum. Dimitri Maratheftis made a break from the base of the scrum and handed the ball on. Paphos found touch well inside the Limassol half. Paphos stole the line-out, a ruck formed and Limassol were caught off-side. Limassol collected the kick but knocked on. At the scrum Paphos produced a huge push but were penalised for turning the scrum.  A scrappy line out followed on half way. Eventually Paphos emerged with the ball and a kick and chase followed. The ball came loose from a maul and Sean Smith picked up to nip over for another try and his hat trick on 16 minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful (17-0).

From the restart failed kicks to touch were followed by poor Paphos defence which almost led to a Limassol try from a kick and chase. Paphos found touch near the Limassol 22 and turned over the line-out. The Paphos three-quarters ran the ball then kicked ahead, won the chase for Marios Shattaoulos to score on twenty minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful. (22-0).

The Limassol re-start sent the ball direct to touch. Paphos controlled the scrum and caught Limassol off-side. Paphos ran the ball to 10m from the Limassol line and the ball became buried in a ruck. Paphos got a quick heel and a good handling move was spoiled by Paphos crossing. Some to-ing and fro-ing followed with Paphos eventually being penalised after a bout of handbag swinging. The Limassol kick failed to find touch and Paphos ran at their defence with Tony Thoma scoring after 31 minutes in the Limassol left corner. The conversion was unsuccessful. (27-0). At the re-start a ruck was formed and Limassol knocked on. Limassol were penalised at the scrum and lost another ten metres through dissent. Paphos ran the ball and were caught of-side at the breakdown. A series of failed kicks to touch followed with Paphos finally finding touch 10 m from the Limassol line. The Paphos forwards produced a huge push and a quick heel started a nice handling movement which was stopped by a good Limassol tackle. Limassol were off-side at the breakdown. Paphos ran at the opposition and following an enormous forward drive ended Paphos under the Limassol posts. At this point the referee blew for half time.

The Limassol restart was fielded by Gary Thomson who took on the Limassol forwards. A ruck formed and Limassol were awarded a scrum. Paphos turned the scrum over and kicked ahead. The Limassol defence held the following Paphos move. Paphos were penalised for a front row offence but Limassol failed to find touch. Paphos won the ball at the ensuing ruck and with a quick heel from the second phase ran the ball through the forwards. The ball was stolen by Limassol but their sliced relieving kick was well fielded by Paphos who ran the ball back at Limassol. The move took Paphos to within 10m of the Limassol line directly in front of the posts.  A good controlled heel by Limassol led to a handling move which, like so many on both sides, ended with a handling error. Paphos won the scrum but their movement also led to a knock on. Limassol moved the ball from the scrum and kicked ahead only to be adjudged off-side. Paphos found touch near half way. Paphos won the line out but the move broke down with a knock on in the centre. Limassol won the scrum but Paphos stole the ball and started a handling movement. This was stopped by a high tackle which resulted in a yellow card for a Limassol player. Paphos moved the ball across the line from the penalty and put Guy Higgs in on 58 minutes for another try. The conversion by Tony Thoma was good (34-0)

From the re-start Paphos took the ball back at Limassol right up to the Limassol line before passing forward. Two untidy scrums followed by some scrappy play followed.  Then Limassol produced a good move making 35m before kicking ahead. Paphos fielded the ball and ran back at Limassol  the movement ending when Paphos were forced into touch in the Limassol right corner.  A scrappy line out gave a scrum to Limassol. Paphos turned over the scrum and Dimitri Maratheftis fought his way through three tackles to score on 70 minutes. The successful conversion brought the score to (41-0)

Re-starting Limassol were immediately under attack. Paphos ran and kicked to Limassol who knocked on. A line out near the Limassol line led to a Limassol scrum. Paphos easily spoiled the heel and Dimitri Maratheftis went over on 76 minutes for his second try. The conversion failed (46-0)

The restart led to a bout of kicking followed by a Paphos forward move which broke down with a knock on. Paphos produced another big push and took the ball up field until penalised for foul play. Limassol found an excellent touch near the Paphos 22. Limassol took the ball through their forwards and then their backs in their best play of the game, finishing with touch near the Paphos 22. Limassol won the ball and the forwards took play almost to the Paphos line. Limassol knocked on and Paphos relieved some of the pressure they were now clearly under. Limassol won a line out 10m from the Paphos line and the forwards were stopped by desperate tackling forcing them into touch 2m out. Paphos knocked on at the line out, Limassol won the scrum and their scrum half made a very quick dash for the line going over on 80 minutes without a Paphos hand laid on him. The conversion was successful. Final score (46-7)