Cyprus Rugby Union - North Cyprus Pumas RFC

The Cyprus Pumas put all their training into practice on Saturday for their first league game of the season against Kartaltepe resulting in a resounding 54-0 victory.

The first 20 minutes saw the home team pack keeping pace with the Pumas, who initially lacked concentration in the scrum. Once the pack started operating as a solid unit, they wore the opposition down and opened up the game and a try by flanker Aidan Gill in his debut for the Pumas put the first points on the board.

“The Kartaltepe pack gave us a run for our money at the start of the game,” said Pumas coach Malcolm Lightower. “But our fitness proved greater and once they tired we had control.”

A further three tries by the hooker, newcomer 17 year-old Joe Omer, prop Dincer Kilercioğlu and team captain Sam Butcher and one conversion by Jon Hoyles, took the first half score to 22-0.

The Pumas continued to gather pace, stealing much of the line out ball in a game that was dominated by the forwards due to the wet conditions. Much of the second half was played in the Kartaltepe half of the pitch with the tiring home team resorting to kicking rather than running with the ball

“The lads played to the game plan, they made a few wrong decisions, but there is no doubt they were the stronger team on the pitch today,” said Mr Lightower. “It was an excellent performance all round especially considering the conditions and I was particularly impressed by Joe, Aiden and Kursat Canbal.”

There were a further six tries and a conversion by the Pumas before the final whistle from UK referee Ian Fell.

“The referee took a common sense attitude towards the game, especially as the opposing team have very little experience in playing. He made the effort to help them with some of the rules of the game,” said Mr Lightower.

“Considering the lack of coach and managerial support and the conditions, the opposition deserve full marks for their play today,” said Pumas team manager Peter Heydon. “They made life difficult for us at the beginning and continued to keep the game going all the way through. They played in the true spirit of the game”

Aidan Gill was named man of the match after an outstanding game by the 19 year-old - starting as flanker and moving to hooker following injuries – who scored two tries in his first performance for the Pumas.