Akrotiri fall short against triumphant Tigers
7th February 2009
by Nigel Jarvis

Akrotiri Flamingoes 6  Paphos Tigers 31

This was the first encounter by the Tigers this season against Akrotiri and all was to play for as whoever won this match would be top of the league.

Akrotiri started very well, with their No10 creating good chances , moving his back line very quickly and proving very elusive to tackle, but it was the Tigers No. 10 Kyle Oelofse who had a first attempt at scoring narrowly missing a drop goal after 5 minutes. Akrotiri counterattacked and the Tigers were penalised for lying on the ball, and the kick from 40 metres was successful for their scrum half and making it 3-0 to Akrotiri.

The Akrotiri forwards continued to pressure the Tigers line and no quarter was asked or given, but another penalty to Akrotiri for going in the side of a ruck gave them another 3 points so that after 20 minutes the Tigers were now 6 -0 down.

Another 5 minutes of attack and counterattack continued until a the Tigers chip over their backs got charged down and only good defensive work prevented and almost certain Akrotiri try.

Just on 30 minutes and Tigers Captain and prop Tony Thoma got sent to the Sin Bin for 10 minutes for a line infringement, but the resulting penalty was missed by Akrotiri but the Tigers were now down to 14 men, and a quick reshuffle of the pack had to be made with brother Chris Thoma playing his first game back after 8 weeks went to prop, and the backs realigned to accommodate this change. The Akrotiri No.10 was becoming even more dangerous and at one time ran right through the Tigers pack and gained another 20 metres before being brought down.

But the Tigers were not down by any means and started to shake off the lacklustre start, and some good handling and pressure kicking took them down to the opponents 5 metre line on several occasions only to give it away with silly penalties, but pressure bore fruit when George Agathocleous made a big break of 40 metres resulting in a quick recycled ball to Tigers fly half Kyle Oelofse who handed off 2 players and ran round 2 others to score into the corner. The ensuing conversion was narrowly missed making the half time score Akrotiri 6 Tigers 5

Just on half time Tigers Dave Carruthers came off and needed 8 stitches in a head wound, and was replaced by veteran Gary Thomson, and so the match was now wide open and anybodies to win.

In the next ten minutes the Tigers missed three chances through poor handling amongst the backs, obviously the long lay off they had been forced to endure due to cancellations was showing as they had only played one game in nearly 8 weeks, but as the second half progressed they started to get more like their old selves, and their usual hard work and determination started to pay dividends when after 20 minutes good handling and tactics caught the Akrotiri backs short handed and George Agathocleous burst over to score underneath the posts , and the conversion by Marcus Holden made the Tigers now in front and 12- 5 up.

A beautiful 40 metre kick into the corner by Tigers Marcus Holden resulted in a lineout when the backs and forwards combined in great support play and another try for the Tigers by forward Chris Thoma, converted by Marcus Holden making the score after 25 minutes now Akrotiri 6 Tigers 19. You could start to see the Akrotiri heads go down and although they tried very hard they couldn’t breakthrough although the Tigers gave away 3 more penalties which could have made it a lot closer.

The Tigers defence counterattacked and just on 35 minutes newly promoted ex colt Jack Bilton playing his first full game at senior level scored his first try, making it now Akrotiri 6 Tigers 24.

The next ten minutes was end to end until George Agathocleous again made a huge break and ran in a well deserved try converted by Marcus Holden making the final score Akrotiri 6 Tigers 31, and although the Tigers looked a little rusty, they ran out deserved winners, and are now top of the league with seven straight wins and only four more matches to go.

Can they win the league??? Come on down and find out for your self as the next home game is this Saturday 14th February Kick Off 2pm Kiniras Sports Ground.