12:40 ON a cold winter’s night, it was strange to be watching a rugby match in Cyprus, with conditions more English than Cypriot as the top two teams on the island kicked off for a league match for the first time under floodlights on Thursday.
There was no score in a closely fought contest for the first half hour before the Limassol Crusaders gave away a penalty in front of the posts and Paphos Tigers fly-half Jack Bilton duly scored.
The Crusaders fought back and their scrum-half, Demitris Maratheftis, kicked a speculative ball into midfield which bounced kindly for him and he was able to re-gather and, with a fine burst of speed, broke two tackles to score the first try of the match.
The conversion was unsuccessful and that was the last action of the first half, with the score 5-3 to the Crusaders.
Five minutes into the second half there was another penalty for the Tigers which Tony Thoma, captain of the unbeaten Cyprus national side, took quickly and was held up just short of the line.
But from the subsequent scrum, the dominating Tigers front row took the ball against the head and Tigers No. 8 Chris Thoma scored.
The extra two points were duly collected by Bilton.
Referee Keith Elliot kept tight control of the game, ably assisted by two qualified assistant referees running the line and did not have to resort to his cards at any stage, although that may have been because he lost one of his contact lenses halfway through the second half.
The Crusaders were coming under more and more pressure in the scrum and after conceding a free kick 35 metres out, Tony Thoma again went early, breaking three tackles before passing to brother Chris, who went over for his second try, which Bilton was this time unable to convert.
The Crusaders started to play more expansive rugby and in a series of moves moved the ball from right to left and back again for Andy Fitzpatrick to score a try in the corner which they were unable to convert.
In the final action of the match the Tigers had another penalty and they chose to kick it to deny the Crusaders a loosing bonus point.
Bilton was unsuccessful but the Crusaders were unable to clear their lines and Chris Thoma ripped the ball to go over for his third try of the night which was duly converted by Nick Bilton.
